1S06.] 
AMERICAN ^AO-RICULTURIST. 
4.03 
ilSI 
iSW For other Household Items, sec " Bnsket " pages.) 
About Alkalies and Acids. ' 
TUcsc two words occm- so frcriucntly in every 
day life, that a few cxjilanations of thciii will be 
acceptable to the uuscicntiflc rcadcr.^ALKiLiES.^ 
Potasli and Soda are familiar examples of alkalies. 
Wheu pure, they have a strong caustic or buruins 
taste. Tliey dissolve readily iu water, and also 
unite with oil or grease. Water and oil will not 
unite together, but jnit some alkali with tliem and 
this will take hold of each and bring them togctli- 
er, as in niakiug soap. The strongest and most 
common alkalies are Potash, Sod:t, and Ammonia 
or Hartshorn. Ammonia is a powerful alkali, but 
as we usually sec it, it is dissolved iu a large amount 
of water. There are other alkalies, aud many alka- 
loids, that is, vegetable sidjstauecs that have alka- 
line properties, such as quinia, morphia, stiychnia, 
etc. Then there are alkaline earths, as they are 
called. Lime Is one of these, which, wheu newly 
burned, is very caustic. Magnesia is another. Lime 
uud magnesia, and especially lime, are useful iu 
many cases as alkalies. As au alkali is often wanted, 
sometimes In haste, to neutralize au acid, as ex- 
plained below, the iinscleutllic reader will remem- 
ber the live most common alkaline substances, by 
the initials PSALM, standing for Potash, Soda, 
Ainnioiiia, Lime, JIarjnesiu. 
Acids. — The word acid, means sour, and most of 
the common acids are very sour to the taste. As- 
cetic acid, or vinegar, wheu pure, is intensely sour, 
and would destroy the flesh, but good strong vine- 
gar contains only 5 or C parts of acid dissolved iu 
100 parts of water. Sulphuric acid, commonly 
called "oil of vitriol," is one of the strong acids. 
A drop of this in a pint of water will make it taste 
6our. Nitric acid, called aqua-fortis, is another of 
the strong acids. So is hydro-chloric acid, com- 
monly called muriatic acid, or spirit of salt. Then 
wo have citric acid, the sour of lemon juice; malic 
acid, the sour of apple juice ; tartaric acid, the 
Bour iu grapes and some other fruits ; lactic acid, 
the sour formed iu milk, etc., as common exam- 
ples. We generally say wheu anything becomes 
sour, that it is acid-i-flcd. Almost all the acids, when 
strong, arc injurious to the flesh, aud poisonous if 
swallowed, but wheu greatly diluted with water, 
they are frequently tonic or strengthening. Some 
fruits are for this reason often useful, aud gener- 
ally healthful, if well mashed or masticated so as 
to be easily digested. Vinegar is much used with 
some kinds of food to aid in their digestion, 
but too much of it injures and weakens the stom- 
ach, and it is not advisable for constant use. — Car- 
boyiic acid is very abundant, but we never see it 
alone, because wheu not combined with something 
else, it always takes a gas or air-like form. It is 
produced wherever any vegct.able substances, as 
coal, wood, oil, etc., are burned. It is this acid 
that bubbles up in soda water, and gives it a sourisii 
taste. It is carbonic acid that Alls the little inter- 
stices or air-holes that make bread, cake, batter, 
etc., light. It unites with potash to form salera- 
tus, with lime to malie limestone, chalk, or marble. 
The acids and alkalies unite together, aud usu- 
ally destroy each other's acrid jiroperties, forming 
what are termed "salts." Thus strong sulphuric 
acid (oil of vitriol), uuites with the powerfully 
caustic soda, and forms the mild compound known 
as Gl.aubcr salts (sulphate of soda). So also when 
this powerful oil of vitriol which eats into the flesh, 
and even chars wood, is united with the intensely 
caustic fresh lime, the two neutralize each other's 
properties, and form the mild, tasteless sulphate of 
lime, (gypsum or Plaster,) which we sow on 
land, and use in making easts, cornices and orna- 
meuts on plastered walls, etc. Aqua-fortis (nitric 
acid), as powerful as it is to destroy the flesh, and 
to dissolve metals, when united with caustic lime, 
makes a compound as mild as plaster, aud wheu 
united with potash, makes saltpetre. Soda put iu 
acid or soured batter neutralizes the acid formed. 
One practical lesson to bo learned from the above, is, 
that when trouble results from the aceideutal or over 
use of either an acid or .alkali, it is to be counter- 
acted by applying the other. For example, if an 
acid is accidentally swallowed, follow it .as quickly 
as possible with some alkali, — as a weak solution 
of potash or soda, or limo water. A strong solu- 
tion of soap swallowed freely, is the best common 
remedy. The ctfeets of potash, soda, lime, strong 
soap, etc., upou the hands, are neutralized by a 
weak wash of any acid, as acetic acid (vinegar). Acid 
spilled upou the garments should be quickly neu- 
tralized with potash, Boda, ammonia, or lime water. 
About Soap — Soap Frauds, etc 
■ 
It has been estimated that, in the United States 
and England, the annual consumptiou of soap, for 
domestic purposes .alone, amounts to an average of 
8Y lbs. of hard soap for each inhabitant, equal to 
41 K^ lbs. to each family of five p)crsons, aud about 
2.50,000,000 poimds for our entire country — worth 
fully .?3,000,000. L.arge quantities are also used for 
manuliieturiug purposes, as in woolen manufacto- 
ries, etc. All soajis are essentially alike in their 
composition and action. Their principal use is to 
remove oily matters, which are dissolved by alka- 
lies. (See notes on alkalies above.) The alkalies 
in a pure state are too strong for the hands, and 
they usually injure fabrics. They are therefore 
made less caustic by first combining them with 
some oil or grease. iu the form of soap. Potash 
nnitcd with any kind of oil or grease, makes a 
watery compound called "soft soap." Soda with 
oil or grease, forms "hardsoap." Ifwe put soda, 
or salt which contains the metallic element of 
soda, into soft soap, the soda unites with the oily 
material, m.akiug hard soap of it, while the potash 
is expelled and remains dissolved in the liquid. 
Ordinary good soft soap, contains in each 100 lbs., 
about 43 lbs. of oily matters, 9 lbs. of potash, and 
48 lbs. of water. Good white hard soap, about 60 
lbs. of oily matters, 7 lbs. of soda, and 33 lbs. of 
water. Castile BO.ap, 75 lbs. oily matters, 10 lbs. 
soda, and 1.5 lbs. water. Other hard soaps vary 
from 50 to 80 lbs. of oily matters, i}4 to 10)^ lbs. 
soda, and 8 to 45 lbs. water in each 100 pounds. 
Common Domesiic Soft Soap is made in two 
ways : Where wood is the chief fuel, the ash- 
es supply a large amount of potash. This is ob- 
tained by leaching, that is, ruuuiug water slowly 
through the ashes. The lye thus obtained is boiled 
down to any degree of strength, and oil or soap 
grease added .at any stage of the boiling. It will 
boil away faster without the grease, but is in the 
end stronger if the grease be added at first, as less 
carbonic acid is absorbed from the air. For the 
same reason, fresh run lye, or that kept closely 
covered, is stronger than that much exposed to the 
air. So also, it is desirable to keep the lye, in its 
passage from the ashes, as little spread out or ex- 
posed to the air, as possible. It may not be gen- 
erally known that fresh slaked lime, mixed with 
the .ashes, a quart or two to the bushel, .and espec- 
ially with the ashes iu the bottom of the leach, is 
highly beneficial. The limo withdraws the carbonic 
acid from the potash, and leaves a stronger lye. 
Lyo is much improved iu strength, by stirring a 
quart or two of fresh slaked lime into a barrel- 
ful, letting it settle, .and pour off the clean lye 
when ready to add the grease for so.ap making. 
The amount of boiliug Is not essential, except to 
reduce the soap to a convenient consistence or 
thickness. The other process, where ashes are 
not made at home, is to purchase potash, dissolve 
it iu water, .about a pailful to a jjound, more or 
less, and boil it with 2 or 3 lbs. of grease — the pro- 
portions depend wholly upou the strength of the 
alkali, and the quality of the grease, of which suf- 
ficient is to be used to leave it weak enough not to 
corrode or injure the hands. If left too strongly 
alkaline, it will injure the fiibrie. — This brings us to 
Bad Soajts iu tlic Market. — There is 
great need of caution uu the jjart of housekeepers, 
iu this re.5pect. As a rule, the " labor-saving 
soaps," all those recommended as quick washers, 
etc., are dangerotis. They are made by incorpor- 
.atiug into them au undue amount of alkali, which, 
while it does promote the quick cleansing of gar- 
ments, does so at the expense nf the fabric. The 
washer-woman, and even the housclceeper herself, 
is pleased with the ease with which the dirt i* 
cleaned out, and she will not only purchase tho 
same soap again, but recommend it to her friends 
and neighbors, and even give a written ecrtilieato 
of its exeelleut properties. It is true that every 
time it is used, it is eating away the strength of Ihu 
fine fabrics, but this is not so rapid as to be 
noticed from week to week. The garmeuts wear 
out early, but that is charged to the manufacturer 
who " makes such poor material in these days." 
Tic have no douht that millions of dollars worth of 
garments are destroyed every year by these much puffed, 
quick washing soaps, now so extensively used! The 
best recipe we could give for reducing the present; 
high price of cotton aud other goods, would be to 
abolish from the country everything in the form of 
a pateuted, quick-washiug, labor-saving soap. If 
anybody wishes to persist in using something that 
will " wash quiclc," let her dissolve the common 
bar Boap, and add a few ounces of cheap w.ashing 
soda. This will get all the effect of the best labor- 
saving soap at a far less cost. But nothing of the 
kind should be used. — Never buy a soap which, on 
drying, leaves on the surface of the bar a white 
coating of soda, or otlicr .alkali. Pale bar so.ap, 
that dries smooth, is the best. That which is of a 
light brown, from the admixture of resin, is equal- 
ly good with the white, for cotton aud linen cloth, 
but for woolen or worsted, nothing but pale soap 
should be used, as the brown, resin soaj) is injurious. 
Dark brown soap, which contains much resin, 
should be rejected. Soap which shrinks )^ or 3^ 
iu drying, is not profitable. Some mauufoeturers 
incorporate a great deal of water, which adds to 
the weight and bulk, but is. a clear loss to the buy- 
er. The above remarks apply to a dozen reeipea 
now before us, contributed by subscribers, which 
gives directions for making excellent quick wash- 
ing soaps, costing only 3 to 4 cents the pound or 
gallon. Those who use them, should take into .ac- 
count the loss of fibre they are invariably enduring. 
The same remarks apply also to the thousand-aud- 
one w.ashing fluids, for which rcciiics have been 
sold so extensively. 
AnotUcr Fi-awd is found iu the white soft 
soaps sold at the grocery stores in cities aud vil- 
lages. They are made of a little grease aud soda 
(instead of jiotash). As the soda naturally makes 
a hard so.ap, much water, together with starch flour, 
silicate of potash, borax, etc., arc mingled to give 
it the jelly like consistence. All this stuff is to be 
avoided. We have seen it sold of so poor a char- 
acter that a barrelful of it was really less valuable 
than 3 or 4 lbs. of bar soap. We have heard of its 
being made aud sold at 75 cents a barrel, at a 
round profit to the maker. Yet the poor and igno- 
rant buy this in immense qu.antities, because it is 
sold at a low price by the gallon, though at an ex- 
horbitant price compared with its real worth. 
There are many other interesting and useful 
items about common soaps, toilet soaps, fancy 
soaps, shaving soaps, etc., which we must defer a 
month or two, or until we have space for them. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
"Above Half Eight," 
"Above half right, above half right," exclaimed 
Mr. Marvin, at the close of a long reverie, as he sat 
by tho kitchen stove. 
" Wliat is above half right?" asked his trim lit- 
tle wife, who was just entering to call him to tea. 
"Oh, no matter, Fanny, but I am glad if tea is 
ready — the chill has gone, outside, aud that will set 
mo all right within." 
" But I insist upon knowing to what that oracular 
conclusion referred," said Fanny, playfully inter- 
cepting her husband's way to the dining room. 
Now with the bright face of his wife, and the 
pleasant prospect of sujipcr before him, Mr. Mar- 
