COMMERCIAL POTASH OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 33 
isting in the sulphate and carbonate of potash, and forms salts 
which are insoluble in water. This indeed is the mode in 
which the pure potash of chemists is obtained. In the ordi- 
nary process, the lime is placed only in the bottom of a large 
tub ; but in the one under consideration, it is distributed 
throughout the whole mass of ashes, and thus its action is 
rendered more efficient. 
The correctness of these views is strikingly confirmed by 
M. Becquerel, who has ascertained by his numerous analyses 
of different kinds of ashes, that those of the lime burner con- 
tain very little sulphate of potash, which is undoubtedly due 
to the action of the lime upon the sulphate of potash with the 
assistance of charcoal. This fact, M. Becquerel remarks, 
may lead to some advantage by adding lime to the wood, the 
ashes of which are intended for the manufacture of potash. 
(Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. 1833.) 
The case, however, is very different, when the lixivium is 
treated with lime and boiled down, without a second filtration. 
It becomes then a fraudulent operation, because the salts of 
lime formed by the decomposition of those of potash will all 
remain in the resulting mass. And in the law regulating the 
inspection of Pot and Pearl Ashes, it is made the duty of 
every inspector to condemn every cask thus adulterated; a 
fact which can be very easily determined by the want of 
solubility in the sample, and the effervescence of the insoluble 
portion upon the addition of a dilute acid. 
Upon inquiry, I find it to be a common practice, to use 
lime in the manner just described. — The reason which the 
manufacturers urge is, that its addition to the ley while boil- 
ing, assists in " keeping back the nitre," as they term it, and 
thus facilitating the subsequent steps of the process. By "the 
nitre" is undoubtedly meant the sulphate of potash, which, 
being much less soluble than any of the salts contained in the 
ashes, begins to crystallise long before the others, and forming 
a solid crust, proves somewhat troublesome, and should be 
removed, if the quantity be considerable. Instead of this, 
however, the manufacturers add lime, which, by decomposing 
VOL. II.' — no. i. 5 
