BY ORGANIC SALTS. 299 



3. If the alkali is barilla or white ash, then the spent lye 

 will contain, in addition to its glycerine, salts of soda; but as 

 less common salt is added, in this case/ the quantity of sul- 

 phate and muriate of soda will be less than the corresponding 

 salts of potash. Ordinarily the spent lye of hard soap contains, 

 per gallon, of 



Sulphate of soda 6| oz. i Glycerine Alb 



Muriate of soda . ^Ib. | 



"While that from hard soap contains, per gallon, of 



Glycerine ^ lb. I Sulphate of potash U lbs. 



Muriate of potash (chloride Silicate of potash 2A oz 



of potassium) ^5 " 



It becomes an important question, whether so valuable a ma- 

 nure can be imitated by artificial methods. As soluble geine 

 is similar to glycerine, the elements of spent lye from soda 

 soap may be formed from swamp muck, ashes and common 

 salt. Take 100 lbs. of peat, 1 bushel of salt, 2 bushels of 

 ashes and 200 gallons of water. Mix the peat and ashes ; 

 moisten with water and add it to the salt in solution ; stir it 

 occasionally for a week, and it will be fit for use.* 



Sect. 2. Manure, consisting of Salts derived from Animal 

 Bodies. 



This class of manures includes the liquid evacuations of 

 animals, which are salts dissolved in water. These salts are 

 different from those which will be described under the head 

 of mineral or saline manures, because they are formed of an 

 animal acid; that is,of an acid which is produced in the ani- 

 mal organs. This acid is found in urine, and is called uric 

 acid. It is composed of 



Carbon 36.11 i Oxygen 28 19 



Hydrogen 2.34 | Nitrogen 33;36 



The quantity of nitrogen renders it a powerful manure, as 

 it becomes the food of plants. This acid appears to be'de- 



* Dana. 



