ON POTASH. 79 



of soda or potash, appears almost equally be- 

 nefited ; and this circumstance also shows a 

 power of adaptation, which, in its results, is 

 most beneficial. 



ON POTASH. 



Potash, the first in order of the salts exist- 

 ing in the soil, exists abundantly as a natural 

 product. It enters into a combination with al- 

 most all the acids and gases, forming a variety 

 of compounds differing materially from each 

 other, but it is never met with in its pure state. 

 In its natural state it exists most abundantly 

 as a nitrate of potash ; that is, potash combined 

 with nitrogen and oxygen, and in this state it 

 is found in almost every region of the globe ; 

 being, however, present in greater abundance 

 as we approach the tropics. It is found in two 

 states, the one in a perfectly crystallized state 

 in the fissures of limestone rocks. Sec. and the 

 other as a salt in the vegetable soil of the earth. 

 Calcareous strata, containing this crystallized 

 nitrate of potash are found in France, Spain. 

 Germany, South A merica, and the East Indies ; 

 and it is in the soil of the latter country espe- 

 ciall}^ from that contiguous to, and existing in 

 the valleys of the great rivers, that our princi- 

 pal supply is derived. 



In its native crystallized state, it is formed 

 by an efflorescence of the salt itself from the 

 rock containing it, and in every instance where 

 the rock is highly charged with this salt a 



