( I 2 I ) 
T" 
XL An Account of a large Qiiantity of Alcalious 
Salt produced by burning rotten Wood . By 
Hr. Rcbie of Harward College in Cam- 
bridge, New-England* Communicated by the 
(Rev* Mr . Derham, ! f rebendary of Windfor, 
White Oak Tree, about two Foot Diameter, is 
in Cambridge, of fo wonderful a nature, as that 
although about a third of it was decay’d, and leem’d 
really to be rotten Wood, yet this decay’d part, in 
burning, would turn almod wholly into a good white 
Alkali, and it would run down into hard Lumps 
white and clean. Such a Lump was brought us at 
College, to know what it was. We tailed it, and 
found it to be Salt, and very ftrong. We dillolved 
it in clean Water, and upon Decantation and Evapo- 
ration, without any Filtration, wc produced a very clean, 
white Sait, exceeding in flrength, and whitenefs, any 
to be bought at the Shops. We tried it many of the 
ways of proving the goodnefs of an Alkali. Now al- 
though Alkali's may be extracted from common Allies, 
yet what was peculiar in this, is, 
i. That while it was Burning, the Wood it felf 
would melt, and run down into hard Lumps of 
Salt; and none of the Wood that was found, would 
do this, but only that which was decay’d ; and what 
was moll decay’d, would yield the greatell Quantity 
of Salt. And, 
F. R. S 
a. Whereas 
