92 FOEEST CULTUKE AND 



pose of this material for fuel. The recommendation 

 carries with it stiU more weight, if we remember how 

 on many places the close growth of suckers or seed- 

 lings has to be thinned to allow of space for the new 

 and unimpaired upgrowth of actual timber ; whereas, 

 moreover, now the remnants at places where trees 

 have been felled, often block by impenetrable barri- 

 cades the accessible lines of traflEic through the forests, 

 and are frequently the cause of the extensive confla- 

 grations of the woods, by' placing so much combus- 

 tible, dry, and mostly oily material within the easy 

 reach of the current of flames. Should, unfortunately, 

 the flery element have anywhere swept through the 

 forest, it may then prove advantageous to collect the 

 fresh ashes beforff they are soaked by rain, with the 

 object of extracting thus large quantities of potash. 

 The whole process of potash preparation being one of 

 the simplest kind, and involving only a very trifling 

 expense in casks and boiling-pans, can be carried out 

 anywhere as a by-work, the profit thus being not 

 reduced by skilled or heavy labor or by costly plant. 

 The demand for potash must always be considerable, 

 as it is required for the factories of niter (particularly 

 from soda saltpeter), one of the three principal in- 

 gredients of gunpowder and blasting-powder ; it is 

 needed also for glass, alum, various kinds of soaps, 

 clyes, and many chemicals.* 



Potash, although universally distributed, is best 

 obtained in the manner indicated. I may remark, 

 however, though deviating from my subject, that it is 

 one of the most potent constituents in all manures, 



* FlinUglaBB coutains about a fifth pure pearlaBh ; crowu-glasB, the best 

 window-glaas, rathermore than a quarter. Some potash-niter is wanted also 

 in either case. 



