ACTION OF SALTS. 



123 



100.000 



4500. 



Calculating from Sprengel's numbers the proportions for 

 2500 lbs. in a cord wet from the soap boiler, the result is 

 expressed above in the right-hand column. Reducing some 

 of these to phosphate and carbonate of lime the result is per 

 cord : 



Phosphate of lime or bone dust, . 340 lbs. 

 Carbonate of lime, . . . 3302 " 



Spent ashes, therefore, belong to the class of carbonates. 



Peat ashes abound in carbonate, sulphate, and especially 

 phosphate of lime. Free alkali may be always traced in 

 peat ashes ; but alkali exists in it, rather as a silicate, as in 

 leached ashes. Anthracite coal ashes contain in 100 parts : 



