290 CHYMISTRY APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE, 



smoothly in a tub, and covered over with a large coarse 

 cloth, upon which water must be poured till the whole is 

 covered with it. The day following a layer of ashes must 

 be placed upon the coarse cloth, so as to be equally thick 

 over the whole surface.* The water is drawn off from the 

 tub by means of a stop-cock placed at the bottom, and is 

 thrown into a boiler under which a fire is kindled : as 

 soon as the water becomes hot, it is thrown upon the bed 

 of ashes, and this operation is repeated for some time; the 

 ley thus formed being allowed to run out of the tub to sup- 

 ply the place, in the boiler, of that which is thrown into 

 the tub. 



In this way the linen gradually becomes hot and the ley 

 acquires strength : when the liquid in the copper is iiear 

 boiling, the operation is discontinue^. The linen is allowed 

 to remain in the tub till the ley has done running, after 

 which it is carried to the wash-house. 



Nearly all fabrics of hemp require to be bleached, rinsed, 

 and dried, before being used ; and as the expense of the 

 soap required would be considerable, its place may be sup- 

 plied by a soapy liquor that is much less costly : this sub- 

 stitute is formed by putting a quantity of such soda as con- 

 tains from -f^^jj to ^(^ of pure alkali, into an earthen jug, 

 with twenty times its weight of water ; the jug must be 

 shaken occasionally to hasten the solution, after which it 

 will speedily become clear; this liquor has a slightly sa- 

 line taste, and should mark 1° (= specific gravity of 1.007) 

 upon the hydrometer of Baume : when it is to be made 

 use of, a quantity of olive oil t is put into an earthen ves- 

 sel, and from thirty to forty times its weight of the alkaline 

 solution is poured upon it : by the union of the two fluids 

 there is immediately produced a white liquor of a milky 

 appearance, which, when shaken, froths like a solution of 

 soap. This liquor is put into a bucket and diluted with a 

 little hot water, and the linen is soaked in it, handled, rub- 

 bed, and turned, till it is perfectly clean. The ley and oil 



* In order to render the ley more active, a little potash or soda is 

 generally added to the ashes ; indeed some persons always mix a por- 

 tion of lime with them, but, unless great care is used, the texture of 

 the cloth will be injured by it. 



t The coarsest kind of olive oils, such as are known in commerce 

 under the names of huiles de fabrique, huiles de teintures, and huiles 

 d'enfer, are those which should be employed for this purpose. The 

 finer oils are not so suitable, as they do not dissolve so well in the 

 solution of soda. 



