COMMERCIAL POTASH OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 35 
It was not until I had proceeded in this investigation, that 
I ascertained how general this mode of adulteration had be- 
come. Several manufacturers have assured me, that salt is 
almost always added to the lixivium, in the ordinary method 
of preparing potash. If this is so, the objection which I have 
to this part of the patented process will equally apply to the 
other. It is proper, however, to state, that while the propor- 
tion of pure alkali in the specimens of potash, which I have 
analyzed, is in favour of those manufactured by the patented 
process, the chlorides of sodium and potassium, which may be 
fairly set down to the admixture of common salt, are also con- 
tained in them in larger proportion. 
There is one consideration in connection with the use of 
salt, which is deserving of some attention. And it is that at 
present, the only object of the manufacturer is to produce an 
article, which shall pass inspection as " first sort." It is by 
this brand, that the market price is regulated, and the extra 
time and labour required to manufacture a more pure potash, 
would, under the present system of inspection, be entirely lost. 
A premium is thus, in effect, set upon ingenious adulterations, 
and, under all the circumstances, we can scarcely attach blame 
to those, who endeavour to avail themselves of its benefit. 
In concluding this part of my paper, justice obliges me to 
state, that the specimens of potash manufactured according to 
the patent process, which has been here described, equal, if 
they no not exceed, in purity, those which have been ordi- 
narily ranked as " first sort." And if the facts, with regard 
to the increased amount of alkali obtained from the ashes, can 
be at all relied on, it must be considered in many respects, a 
valuable improvement. But from the very nature of the case, 
its continuance, as such, must depend, in a great degree, upon 
the honesty of the manufacturer, and upon the vigilance and 
skill of the inspector. 
Analysis of several varieties of Potash. — In the exami- 
nation of these specimens, my chief object was to determine 
the proportions which they contained, of what are usually 
called impurities. The other substances which commercial 
