THE EXHAUSTION OF POTASH. 
531 
grow without an amount of labour that could not at present be 
expended on Crown lands. 1 have tried the experiment of 
scarifying the surface and sowing, but with little success. On 
the whole there is a great improvement in the clip this year 
as compared with last, but there is still something to strive 
for. ^ If by breeding only from the best of our stock, and im¬ 
proving them by careful selection, and the use of the best 
blood, together with great care in preparing the clip for 
market, we can balance the fall in price that has taken place, 
we shall be well repaid for the trouble. And Victoria need 
not fear the competition of any other country in woohgrowing, 
as far as the highest qualities of that article are concerned. 
Many of the squatters have only now entered upon a course 
of progressive improvement in their flocks, which, if it had 
been sooner undertaken, would have greatly benefited them¬ 
selves and the country.— Farmer^8 Magazhie. 
THE EXHAUSTION OE POTASH. 
A WRITER in the Quarterly Revieio says that sheep draw 
from the land on which they graze a considerable quantity of 
potash, much of which is ultimately excreted from the skin 
with the sweat. It was pointed out by Chevreul that this 
peculiar potash compound (^^suinU'’) forms no less than one 
third of the weight of raw merina wool; while of ordinary 
wools it constitutes about fifteen per cent, of the weight of the 
fresh fleece. As the suint’^ may be extracted by mere im¬ 
mersion in cold water, it is easy for the avooI manufacturers 
to produce more or less concentrated solutions from which the 
potash may be recovered by appropriate treatment. The de¬ 
velopment of the new industry is principally due to MM. Mau- 
mene and Rogelet, and their process is probably in operation 
at most of the great seats of the wool manufacture in France. 
The plan adopted by these gentlemen is a very simple one. 
They evaporate the solutions which are sent to them until a 
})erfectly dry and somewhat charred residue has been obtained. 
This is placed in retorts and distilled, very much in the same 
manner that coal is distilled at gas-works; and the result is, 
that while much gas is evolved, which can be used for illumi¬ 
nating the factory, and much ammonia is expelled, which can 
be collected and utilized in many ways, there remains a residue 
which chiefly consists of carbonate, sulphate, and chloride of 
XLii. 37 
