FARMERS' REGISTER— MANUFACTURE OF POTASH. 



645 



For the Farmers' Registar. 

 ON THE MxVNUFACTURE OF POTASH. 



[It is remarkable that the manufacture of potash, 

 which has formed so considerable and profitable an em- 

 ployment for the industry of the northern states, has 

 never been in operation in Virginia. Of course, no sat- 

 isfactory answer to the following letter of inquiry on 

 this subject was to be obtained at home — and it wa. 

 therefore sent to a gentleman who resides in Cayuga 

 county, New Yoik, whose location, as well as his ge- 

 neral information, it was inferred, would enable him to 

 give the statements required. He has kindly coniplied 

 with the request, by sending the communication insert- 

 ed below. We also add the article on this manufacture 

 in Rees' Cyclopaedia.] 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



The enormous waste of wood (liroughout Vir- 

 ginia and (he snulhern states, induces nie to inquii e 

 whether a considerable saving to the country may 

 not be elTected, by converting a portion of it into 

 potashes, and by preparing the bark of certain de- 

 scriptions of trees, for tanning and dyeing. 



In clearing our lands, it is the practice to burn 

 all the wood which is not used for fence rails, and 

 no care is taken of the ashes. It is well known 

 that from the branches and twigs of oak, a larger 

 quantity of j)otasli is obtained, than from the same 

 weight of the trunk of the tree, and that the 

 branches are entirely lost with us in clearing 

 land. 



Now, my object in addressing you, is to request 

 that you will obtain and publish the most simple 

 and clear directions for making and preparing pot- 

 ashes for market, embracing the cost of all requi- 

 site apparatus, labor, &c. and the quantity produ- 

 ced from a given weight or measure of white oak, 

 red oak, and other woods common to our country. 

 The preparation of bark tor exportation might 

 also be valuable, if the mode of doing it was made 

 known to our farmers. queuist. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



William Culver, Esq. from whom the following 

 particulars were obtained, has been concerned in 

 the manufacture of potash for many years. 



It is estimated that 450 bushels of good house 

 ashes will make a ton of potash^ Sonie skilful 

 workmen can produce more. The manager of his 

 works contracted to make a ton from every 425 

 bushels; and he has even made that quantity from 

 420 bushels ; but it is nwre than common workmen 

 can produce. 



Of field ashes about 550 bushels are required to 

 make a ton. This difference is owing to impuri- 

 ties, and to a want of compactness in the ashes. 

 Great care should be used in scraping them up, so 

 as to exclude as much dirt as possible. It requires 

 more care to work them. 



At this time, house ashes are worth 10 cents a 

 bushel at the ashery ; and field ashes, 7 cents. 



One man can manage an ashery, consisting of 

 the different vessels hereafter to be mentioned. 

 ~ There ought to be 6 leaches (or leach tubs) each 10 

 feet long, constructed in the following manner: 

 Lay two parallel sills, one a little higher than the 

 other. On these the bottom of the leaches are laid — 

 made of boards 4 feet long, not grooved and tongued, 

 but breaking joints. These should be a foot high 



from tlie ground, so as to admit a trough under the 

 lower edge to catch the ley, and to lead it info the 

 ley tub, wliicii may be a half iiogshead sunk in the 

 ground, and which will serve for tiro leaches. 



The boards, 4 feet in length, which constitute 

 the sides of (he leach, are held together by two 

 reclangular frames ; (he lower one resting on the 

 bottom is IS inches wide, and the upper, near ,tho 

 top of the leach, 3^ feet wide. 



On the bottom of the leach, lay small sticks 

 crossing each other, to the height of two inches, 

 for the purpose of letting the ley run o.ff freely. 

 On these, place straw, to be 4 inches thick when 

 well pressed down, to prevent the ashes from wash- 

 ing through, and mixing with the ley. Three 

 bushels of lime to each leach, are spread on the 

 straw : its effect is to facilKate the melting of the 

 potash. Every third time that the leaches are 

 filled, new lime is to be ajiplied after ejecting the 

 old. 



The ashes when thrown into the leaches, must 

 be made compact by pounding it down. In this 

 way a leach will hold 60 bushels. 



The leaches are worked in jjairs. One pair may 

 be rifjuiZ/Jg' while the second is soaking, and the 

 (bird is being emptied of old ashes, or being filled 

 wi(h new. This arrangement prevents the work- 

 man from losing time by waiting, or from being 

 too much hurried at another time. 



Two potash ketdcs of 90 gallons each, are want- 

 ed for boilers, and may cost about ^35 a piece. 

 These are set in arches. Several sugar kettles, 

 containing about 20 gallons each, will also be want- 

 ed for coolers. 



The manufacture of potash is generally com- 

 menced in the spring, when there is no longer any 

 danger from freezing. 



Ley, too weak to bear an egg, is not put into the 

 boilers, but is used for wetting such leaches as 

 have not begun to run. 



During the boiling, a dipping pan is placed in 

 each boiler, resting on the bottom, to catch the 

 black salts as tliey settle ; and when the pan is full, 

 it is emptied from time to time. By this process, 

 the ley will not become so thick, and consequently 

 evaporate faster. 



When the strong ley (such as will bear an egg) 

 from the two leaches, is all poured into the boilers, 

 then increase the fire. For this purpose, good dry 

 wood is necessary. The black salts are now to be 

 returned to the boilers ; and there will be a danger 

 of the liquid running over. This is prevented by 

 dipping it up and pouring it back into the boiler. 

 Repeat it till this disposition to rise over shall dis- 

 appear. Then raise the heat still more till (he pot- 

 ash is perfectly melted, and becomes almost as thin 

 as water. It is then to be dipped out into the 

 coolers, being careful to have them very dry. 

 Let the potash stand till next daj- — it will crack 

 into four quarters. Turn it out, and it is fit to bar- 

 rel. 



My informant suggests there would be a great 

 advantage in having some person to start the works 

 who was well acquainted with the business. 



D. T. 



xtrticle on Carbonate of Potash in JRees' Uncy- 

 clopcBdia. 

 The potash of commerce, or black potash, as it 

 is also called, is universally propured from the com- 

 bustion of wood; and therefore its preparation can 



