Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-06
CAPT. George MINOR,

CAPT. GE0kGE MISoR,
CHIEF IF bureau ordnance and
HyG,VgTarhy T. S. Macy.
DEAR sIR-- Having been appointed The agent
Of your bureau for the purpose OF ascerts!nlng
whether or not sallpetre existed in the hIors
of tobacco barus OF Virginia and North Caro-
lima, and Of depsing 1. process Of obtaining it
simple enough to bs worked by tho planters
with their negroes, proceeded u! once to tho
task, and after examining quite 8 number oil
barns, have not found single one which does
hot contain Soma saltpelre. The quantity OF
saltpe!1e 70 be found in the fo0r Of barn ia
generally proportional to ta ago or ihs length
Of :imn i. hns been in use.
need not 90 into discussion Of tho causes
OF ;hc formation Of nitro III these floors, but
would sugges! that portion Of il is formed
on tbs base Of potask which they require from
tho ashes of wood used in firing tobacco, and
portion received iii the large quantity OF dust
that falls from the tobacco in handling 1t is
Ger tain, however that il ex ats here rs pure nj.
trate Of potash (as you will will SEQ from tho
sample furnished With this) and requires very
simple process to separate Il from thu earth
Alter 8 number Of experiments, lind that the
following simple ard eH:y process is the very
best fnr obtaining ihi; ntTe in state pure
enough for market
PHoCgss.-Dripptng.- four barrels,
with ons head in oach as fear water tight as
practicable, (hour barrels will do, but ~hiskey
or molaases barrels are better,D number them
las. !. Make false bottoms in them with
twigi, ur otherwise, as may be mos! convent.
ont, Ira the baEreis over this pretty we'll with
straw o. hs7, extending this lining soma dis
tancc up the sides and fill with earth from the
floor of tho barn. Pour sufficient water to
each barrel thoroughly to moisten 1t. Each
barrel should be little inclined to oHh side,
and should have spile hole as near tho bot.
| tom rs possible, which mus! be stopped with
wooden spigot for about Twelve hours alter the
frs! water is poured on, and then unstopped,
and the water allowed to run or drip into sopo
vessel provided fer tho parpose. The dripping
now ircfo NJ. 4 should be returned to it until
| it tiTips clear; that from No should 90 poured
into No. 4; that from No. , into No. ), and
that from No. into No. 2, pouring, after this
all the fresh water into No. l.. Thus it vii! be
seen that the fresh water passes hrst through
Nj. |, taking liz it's soluble substances; that
this partially changed liquid goes into No :,
getting still more nitro; that on being drawn
off from No. 2, il passes through No. 3. and is
| finally carried through No q. getting an adol.
,ional supply of nitro at every cha.ge. Thus
the liquid coming from No. 4 is as highly
concentrated as can conveniently be obtained
Tho clear lye from Nc 4 may oa Sci aside, in
sorse yessal, to sctte, until enough is obtained
to conmsuco boiling 1t may BIO discovered
By tasting the yc that the earth in No. ee-
comes exhausted of its nitTe much sooner than
tia. ia the other barrels. When this is dis,
covered, it should be euptied and re-h!l5d with
fresh earth and placad as No. I. thus making
No. nor become No. l, and No. No. 2, aud
SO preserving continual rotation Of the bar
rels, and avoiding tho delay of stopping to
70 fil all at once The earth ID tho floors OF
the bsrns will be found to yield nitre as lar
down as it is dOoonposed. Care should be
taken in pouring the clea. lye into tho vessel
for boiling to pour 10 as little Of the sediment