524 I>ii- CHASE'S RECIPES. 



Yankee way of answering it: "Why does everybody that makes soap from 

 ashes put lime in the bottom of the leach?" Simply because if he does not 

 he will have great trouble, even if he can make it at all, unless he does put the 

 lime in, is about all the reason they can give. But lime causes the absorption 

 of carbonic acid in the lye from the ashes, and also gives the lye a caustic prop- 

 erty that enables it to combine with the grease, and th.ereby makes the soap, 

 which it could not do, or at least not well do, except for the lime. The lime, 

 then, does not hurt soap, but makes a better soap than can be made without it. 

 Well, then, if it is good to assist in making soap from ashes, or potash, which 

 comes from the ashes, why should it be thought injurious to combine it with 

 sal soda for the same purpose? The one question answers the other, and ought 

 to satisfy every reasonable person that lime is good and not injurious, as some 

 suppose, for soap-making purposes. The manufacturers make soap by the use 

 of potash, or soda, in the form or what is known as soda-ash, which is caustic, 

 by means of its process of manufacture; but this article (soda-ash) cannot 

 always be obtained, while the sal soda, which is a carbonate, can always be got; 

 then we combine the lime with it, which gives it the same causticity that soda- 

 ash has, and we thereby get just as good a soap. So have no fears in using 

 them. 



8. Soft Soap From Concentrated Lye.— To make soft soap with 

 concentrated lye, take 1 lb. of it and dissolve it in 2 gallons of soft water; and, 

 when it boils, add tallow, or clear grease, 4 lbs. Let it boil till it becomes 

 clear; then add 2 gallons more of rain water. Mix well and set it by to cool; 

 then take a cup of it, and add as much cold water as it will take, and still be 

 as thick and ropy as you wish it, then add water in the same proportions to the 

 whole. — Prairie Fariner. 



9. Soft Soap for House Cleaning, "Washing Clothes, etc.— It 

 is well to have two or three strings to one's bow; hence I give one or two more 

 soft soap recipes. This one I take from the Medical Brief, of St. Louis: Hard 

 soap, 3 lbs. ; sal soda, 1 lb. ; aqua ammonia and spirits of turpentine, each 1 oz. ; 

 soft water, 3 gallons. Boil the water and dissolve in it the soap and soda; 

 remove from the fire and stir in the others. 



Remarks.— Oi\ of sassafras, ^ to 1 oz., may be used for flavoring, if 

 desired, in this amount of any soaps. 



A lady editress of one of the "Household Departments" of an agricul- 

 tural paper makes it as follows, using less soda, and no ammonia nor turpen- 

 tine, still it will be found excellent for the purposes named 



10. Soft Soap, for Removing Grease from Floors, Shelves, 

 etc. — Sal soda, % lb. ; bar soap, 1 lb. ; cut into small pieces; put them into a 

 stone jar on the back of the stove, or range, when not very hot, and pour over 

 it a pailful of cold water; stir it once in a while, and after some hours, when 

 thoroughly dissolved, put it away to cool It forms a sort of jelly, and is excel- 

 lent to remove grease on floors or shelves. 



Remarks. — The author will say good for cleaning all wood- work, and for' 

 ;^eneral washing too. 



