SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
166 
tic lime will not remove these defects. Housewives use 
an egg, a piece of hard soap, or an Irish potato, to test the 
buoyant power, and strength of lye. The information 
gained in this way is not entirely reliable; for a solution 
of the sulphate of potash, or of the chlotide of potassium, 
indicates equal density, or buoyant power. 
In the first volume of that truly great work, KNiPP’s 
Chemical Technology, the author devotes 48 pages to the 
elucidation of this branch of domestic manufactures. To 
this standard authority the critical reader is referred for 
much additional information on the subject. We should 
state, however, that the fatty acids have but feeble affinity 
foj the alkalies ; and not being soluble in water, no union 
or saponification takes place if the potash or soda be large 
ly diluted in water. In a properly concentrated solution 
of either alkali, free from acids, if oil be addled and stirred 
to bring the atoms of oil and alkali into positive contact, 
soap may be formed without boiling. But while ebulition 
stirs both the grease and the base most thoroughly, in 
soap-making, the heat generated thereby also promotes 
the chemical combination of the constituents of soap. 
Hence, soap may “come” while boiling hot, and soon 
separate again into lye and grease after it is cold. W^hen 
this occurs, the lye is either too weak, or impure, or both. 
In such cases, take off the grease, and purify the lye, (un- 
less you prefer to throw it away) by adding a saturated 
solution of caustic lime as long as any precipitate, (white 
powder) falls in the lye. This powder is the carbonate of 
lime. Recently slacked lime itself may be used in place 
lime water. The lye should be carefully poured off the of 
sediment, and will probably need boiling down toincrease 
its strength. It is best to have lye boiling hot before add- 
ing grease. After boiling, if the emulsion is loo thin, the 
lye is in excess, and more grease is needed; on the con- 
trary, if oil is seen floating on the surface, more lye is re- 
quired. What appears as an emulsion gradually becomes 
more like a jelly and a true soap. This is less soluble in 
salt water than in either lye or pure water. Hence, the 
simple addition of salt will often solidify soap, (forming 
in part a soda soap) which would not make without this 
new material. Care should be had that hard soap do not 
attach itself to the sides and bottom of the pot or kettle 
and burn. 
As iron soap stains linen, noneshould remain in an iron 
vessel longer than absolutely necessary. Good soap is a 
clear, translucent, thick, semi-fluid ; a few drops of which 
should dissolve perfectly in pure rain water. One pound 
of such soap is worth many pounds of the insoluble, filthy, 
resinous stuff sold for washing purposes. 
Some of the fatty acids are volatile ; and it is these that 
impart the peculiar and sometimes offensive smell to soap. 
Rancid oil and grease combine more readily with alkalies 
to form soap than fresh oil or grease. Neither rosin nor 
any of its feeble aciiis ever become rancid ; and “there- 
fore,” says Knapp, “no real sponification ensues, but the 
alkali is simply saturated with the rosinous acids, and a 
substance obtained, which, in a commercial point of view, 
is equivalent to soap.” L. 
TO FARMERS, MECHANICS AND OTHERS, 
McCORD’S PATENT PORTABLE ANTI-FRICTION HORSE POWER, 
THE BEST IN USE. 
PATENTED, JULY llTH, 1854. 
ri t HIS Is an invention by which a larger proportion of the power of the hor.se is rendered available than by any other arrangement 
_L known. Its parts are few and simple, not liable to derangement, redily adjusted for working, with ordinaj-y care very durable and 
efficient. 
The Machines are manufactured with great exactness and all precisely alike, so that in case a piece should be broken we can alwayu 
furnish a piece to replace it. 
It is designed for one or two horses, and can be used for a great variety of work, thereby saving a large amount of labor, expense and 
valuable time to the Farmer, Mechanic and others. ^ .t 
Ey reason of its portability the owner can readily locate it wherever it may suit his business. It can be used to good advantage for 
driving cotton gins, thre.shing machines, circular, or other saws, planing and otlier machines for working wood, diiving mills, of various 
kinds, for grinding, paint, &.C., straw-cutters, com-shellers, lathes, grindstones, &c., and for chuining, washing, pumping water for cattle, 
irrigation, or draining, and all other purposes to which a Horse Pov.-er is adai>ted. 
We also keep the most approved Spike and Beater THRESHERS, which can be driven by the above Powers, 
PAN MILLS, for Hand or Horse Power. 
SMUT MACHINES, GRAIN CRADLES, BELTING, &c. 
Scott’s LITTLE GIANT CORN AND COB MILLS. CARMICHAEL & BEAN, 
ilai'choG — tf Dealers ia Hardware, Cutlery and Agricultural Implements, Augusta, Ga. 
