140 Transactions. — Miscellaneous, 



In this colony thousands of acres of forest are burnt annually, but I am 

 not aware that the slightest effort has been made to utilize the ashes. 

 Although produced in such large quantities they are simply wasted, being 

 for the most part blown away by the wind, or washed by the rain into the 

 nearest streams and carried to the sea. It is obvious that by collecting the 

 ashes immediately after "burning off','' especially where much "logging" 

 has been necessary, the settler has the means of defraying a considerable 

 portion of the cost of clearing, without any commensurate outlay. As the 

 majority of settlers commence their clearings with but slender pecuniary 

 resources this is a matter which possesses a direct interest for a large class. 

 In Britain potash is employed in numerous manufactures, and the con- 

 sumption increases year by year, so that no doubt can be entertained as to 

 the possibility of finding a market. The greater portion of the supply is 

 obtained from wood-ashes, for although it is also procured from mineral 

 sources, the process of extraction is comparatively costly. 



In populous districts, where wood forms the chief fuel, it might prove 

 remunerative to collect the ashes for the sake of the potash which they 

 contain. Baron von Mueller estimates that a bucketful of ordinary wood- 

 ashes contains about two pounds and a half of crude potash, worth sixpence 

 per pound. 



In Europe, furze, broom, and common fern are often burnt for the sake 

 of the potash contained in their ashes. Might not our local Eoad Boards 

 derive a hint from this, to assist them in defraying the cost of clearing the 

 miles of furze and fern by which traffic is impeded upon some of our roads, 

 and at the same time open a new outlet for labom- ? 



Charcoal. 

 At present charcoal is manufactured to a small extent only ; and its cost 

 is so high as greatly to restrict its application. 



The ordinary process of manufacture, although extremely simple, re- 

 quires great care and attention. The wood is cut into billets from two to 

 four feet in length, and dried by exposure to the air ; when dried it is closely 

 stacked in conical mounds from six to twelve feet high, and from ten to 

 forty feet in diameter. 



The ground is first cleared and levelled ; a small framework is erected in 

 the centre of the space, about three feet square, and consisting of four 

 forked-sticks standing two and a half feet out of the ground, and connected 

 at the top by four stout rods. The billets are compactly stacked round the 

 frame until the entire area is covered, all the billets sloping towards the 

 centre ; the stack is then completed to the desired height by billets arranged 

 horizontally, and the whole covered by a layer of earth, finished off with 

 sods when it is practicable to obtain them. 



