Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-20


The Farmers Register has the following in
reference to Mr.. jeremiah Browns method OF
making saItpeter, published in Virginia (I763)
by order of the trustees, for the improvement Of
arts and manufactures, and also in England, by
order of the society, for the Encouragement OF
arts, manufactures and commerce.
Saltpeter is to be found in tObacc0-houses,
stables, COW houses, hen and pigeon-houses, and
in any covered place where the influence of the
sun seldom reaches. A sixty-feet tobacco-house
will yield upwards of sixteen hundred weight
(l792 lbs.) a year, and so in proportion for larger
OF smaller houses.
In order to prepare the floors for attracting nj
ter, all dung and other trash must be removed.
and if the floors are not level, they must be
made 50 by laying on mari, or any other soil
not too stiff, which must be lightly trod down
with the feet.
The h0ur being thus prepared, sprinkle strong
AMBER over it, made from tobacco trash, and
cover it with wet gourd leaves or other tobscco
trash for a fortnight; then clean out the trash.
and in any cool, dry morning that succeeds, you
will find OF the floor the inter, attracted arI
condensed ike boar frost. Sweep this off lightly.
and put 1t by in some hogsheads or safe place IN
your house, until you nave leisure TO 90 through
the following F-~~Az-This work YOU must
N0SAt1J ANPN-N 90 oAeNA ca gbA - bAe ABOVE
mentioned appearance Of inter on your floors, D.
which means you viii soon be furnished with a
competent quantity TO employ a leisure day:
Tai PROCESS-Make a ley from this earth
in the same manner as is usually done for SOAP.
noting that the earth is not to be hard packed On
the straw in the bottom of your ley vessel, which
would retain the water, to be poured ON, too
| long, and oveTcharge it with saline particles, 20
the great interruption of the process. Place the
Goth H,1l.u- n, Tho vaauel for tho rpoAufipu .rF
the water the first put to it must BE- warmer
than new milk from the COW afterwards add
cold water; fix a vessel to receive the ley as soon
as you begin 10 put the water in, as it viii not
remain long upon the earth, but in a few min
utes will begin to drop into the receiver. II 1t
runs foul il must be returned to the earth. As
soon as it has dropped a gallon, you may begin
to boil in a east iron pot, livery bushel OF earth
will receive near eight gallons Of water.
Continue to boil 1t gently, until 1t Is reduced
to a thick, oily consistence, shooting into small
icy crystals, which you will easily perceive by
exposing the suds in a spoon to a cold plate.
Then put the liquor out of the pot into wetted
wooden trays, and set it by in a cool place for
the first growth. If you accidentally boil it too
thick, add a little cold water. When your trays
have stood with the suds a few hours, you must
raise one end to let the ley drain off from the
p~etersalt, which is the first growth, and which
/ \uquOtJ ny bOAuhS a seCoHu tAAS5 VIII ylem d
fresh quantity.
After it (the solid natter is thus drained and
become dry, you may put it into casks Or tubs
until you have leisure to Tehne
The directions mich follow, to refine and
clarity s~altpeter, are omitted, but may be con-
suited in the entire article published in the Far
meTs' Register, volume !, page COL. The article
concludes thus:
n. B.-The earth from which you have e1-
tracted the s~sltpeter, and all the washings Of
your vessels, if you lay it by, thiuly spread in
your house, will turn to profit, as it continues to
be peculiarly proper to attract and absorb the
inter floating in the air. Add also the earthly
matter which settles in the refining. And should
be in want of house-rOOm, you may spread it
upon the earth, covered in the manner that fOd-
der stocks are. 1t will produce saltpeter fully
as well as a tobacco house, taking care that the
north end be always open, and that it is defended
from rain.