INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. xlvii 



kilns only two and a half feet diameter, and four feet high, the 

 fires bnrn fiercely, and the whole of the ashes, in four days, were 

 formed into solid pieces, as hard as stone. 



To ascertain the difl^erence between this and our first mode 

 of burning, I dug a pit, three feet in diameter, and four feet deep. 

 It wns supplied with the plant in the same manner as the loose 

 stone kiln. It had been burning nine days when I yesterday 

 saw it ; and then there was not a lump which would weigh two 

 ponnfis in all its contents, This failure appears to proceed from 

 the total exclusion of air. 



I sent the overseer to Thompson's Valley, that he might re- 

 port iiis opinion upon the jilant there, which is as follows. There 

 is a great quantity, and it is very tall, but he supposes it will not 

 yield much good alkali, from the quantity of stem (or stalks) with 

 which it abounds ; however, I am inclined to think that this must 

 solely arise from its age. If it were cropped, or headed down, I 

 have no doubt it would afterwards produce abundantly : there- 

 fore, should it meet your ph-asure, the party there may continue 

 to collect and burn, and from the first samples a judgment may 

 be fortned. It seems to me, that Sandy Buy will produce the 

 greatest quantities, and the best." 2bth June, 1809. 



" I send you the produce o? one ounce of barilla, a part of that 

 piece you saw at the Castle last Monday. I prevailed on Mr. 

 Thompson to lixiviate and evaporate this small quantity. He 

 says, that the alkaline salt is the finest and best he ever saw in 

 all his travels. His early pursuits in life having given him a 

 practical knowledge of these matters, his opinion may be the 

 more relied on." Sth July, 1809. 



" The barilla burning at Sandy Bay goes on very well, and 

 the alkali is exceedingly good. I was astonished to see that those 

 plants which were cut down only three months ago, have again 



