268 



R. T. BAKER. 



(b) Analysis of the ash. — An analysis made by my col- 

 league Mr. H. G. Smith, F.O.S., gave the following results: — 



The ash was used by early settlers at Port Macquarie in 

 the manufacture of soap, in preference to that of all the 

 other trees in the district. It was probably by empirical 

 means that such a use was found for it, although the 

 practice was quite a common one elsewhere. The per- 

 centage of soda as carbonate being so large, it is readily 

 seen how useful such material could be ma<Je for such a 

 purpose. 



The large amount of alkalis renders the ash easily fusible, 

 and some difficulty was experienced in preparing it in a fit 

 state for analysis; it was necessary to dissolve out the 

 alkalis before all the carbon could be removed. 



The percentage of ash calculated on the anhydrous wood 

 was 2*43 per cent. There were no sulphates remaining in 

 the insoluble portion, nor were phosphates detected in the 

 soluble. The amount of silica was very small, and only a 

 trace of iron was present. Manganese w T as detected, but 

 only in minute traces. The silver precipitates were 

 decomposed by zinc, and in the filtrate bromine was 

 detected but not iodine. 



The composition of the ash was determined as follows: — 



Potassium sulphate 



2*26 



per 



cent 



Potassium chloride... 



19*58 



?? 



Sodium chloride 



. 7'60 





ji 



Sodium carbonate ... 



. 41*61 





»i 



Calcium phosphate ... 



. 7*01 





»i 



Calcium carbonate ... 



. 9*94 





»? 



Magnesium carbonate 



11-73 





>» 



Silica ... 



0*13 





i 



Loss and undetermined 



0*14 





» 





100*00 





