The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-04-18
Ashes, Leached and Upleached.

Ashes, Leached and Unleached.
Inquiries are frequently made, regard
ing the comparative value of leached and
unleached ashes and in order to answer
them, let us consider the nature, or chem
ical constituents Of the two heaps as we
find them at the soap-boier's. In one
bin are the dry, fresh wood ashes in an
other, the wet, lixivated mass, as thrown
from the leach tubs. If the former are
like the ashes produced in our own dwell
ling by burning in the open Fireplace,
oak, pine, hickory, birch, and maple woods
a bushel will weigh about fifty pounds,six
and three fourth pounds of which are SOL
uble in warm water. Of the soluble con-
stituents, there are little more than
four and one-haf pounds of potash and
soda, the remainder being the sulphuric,
muriatic, and corbonic acids with which
the alkalies are combined Forty-three
pounds are iusoube in water, and con-
sist OF
Carbonate of lime, 80 lbs.
l. hOophdeC iDo'
Carbonate Of magnesia, A lbs.
Slicate of lime, 3 lbs.
Oxides of iron and manganese, Id.
1t is the work of the soap-boiler to re-
move from ashes what is soluble in water
which is accomplished in the leach tub;
and this is all the change they undergo
in this establishment. The ashes 90 in
dry, holding the soluble and insoluble
substances they come out wet, deprived
of six and three.f ourths pounds of potash
and sodo. 1t should be stated, however,
that about one pound Of quick lime is
added to each bushel of ashes in the leach
to render the I've caustic. This adds one
pound more of lime to the insoluble resi-
dunn, or leached ashes, making it weigh,
if it was free from water, forty-four lbs.
In teaching, the ashes do not change much
in bulk, but they are largely increased in
weight from the contained water.
Now, what is the commercial value Of
the ashes before and after they pass
through the soap-maker's hands ? In the
dry state the four and one-half pounds of
potash and soda are worth six cents a
pound, ~
Other soluble constituents, 3
Thirty-two pounds carbonate of lime, 3
Three pounds phophate of lime, 6
Three pounds silicatc, 0
Iron and Manganese, 0
80
This estimate which is fair one gives
value per bushel of thirty-nine cents /;
that is, the substances found in bushel
of good sound wood ashes are worth in the
market that sum at the present time. By
teaching the ashes, thirty cents of the
commercial value is removed and CONVEX
ted into soap; this leaves nine cents as
the value of the constituents Of bushel
of leached ashes The silicate of lime,
and the metals, practically have no market
value, and are not considered.
What is the agricultural value of the
two forms of fertilizers The ashes hold
ing all their normal constituents are worth
more applied to soils than for other uses
when separated, dollars and cents being
considered. A bushel judiciously employ.
ed, will return in most seasons sixty OF
seventy cents worth of products the first
year. The potash and soda combined as
they are in ashes, are in PRECISELY the
right condition to be readily assimilated
and also to aid in rendering assimilable
many important constituents of the soil
The leached ashes also are worth more
to the farmer than nine cents bushel
Relatively they are worth more for sol
employment than the unleached, regarG
being had to the commercial value of tn,
substance when separated. A good hon
est bushel of moist, leached ashes, viii
give returns the first year of the value o
fifteen or twenty cents and owing to thu
peculiar decomposing influence upon thu
insoluble constituents of the soil of tn,
silicates, etc., remaining in the mass, thei
influence extends outside of themselve
and continues for long time. A roun,
of phosphate of lime found in ashes i
worth more than pound of bone dust, a
it is in condition to be readily taken VI
by plants, The carbonate of lime is wort
; more than chalk of the same agent il
other forms. inasmuch as it has once pass
ed through plant structures.
, The estimates here presented are onl
rough ones, but they are sufficiently exac
r to serve as guide in learning the valu
! of leached and unleached wood ashes. W
u have experimental considerably wit
y ashes in both forms, upon soils of varior
. kinds, and what we have here stated
4 the result of our own practical exper
ence.-Boston Journal of CHEMISTRY.
a PRorEcr1oN AGAINST THE CABBAa,
d WoRM.-The European cabbage-worr
d pieris rape, recently introduced by Il
n way of Canada, which has proved so v
d racious and prolific, has become the te
ror of northern cabbage-growers, al
d threatens to traverse the country, unle
lie checked by natural or other cause
ID Wherever the pest has reached, so far
at heard from, very few if any remedi
n, have availed to give relief to the garde
re err. The most noted success is that of
n, I. Quinn, the market-garden reporter
~ the New York Tribune. He sends to
te the following statement On his retu
he from California, last summer, he fou
e, his cabbage infested with worms, a
re, threatened with total destruction,
no went to work with his accustomed enerf
Te experimenting, trying everything new a
Mt old promising riddence of the plague,
IT. to no purpose, until he hit upon the f
.at lowing 20 parts of superphosphate ma
of slush acid, l of carbolic powder, a
eff, 3 of unslacked lime, mixed well togeth
EN- and busted thoroughly into each head ft
ID. times at intervals of four days. I
llk worms would eat fresh lime with impu
i've ty, and carbolic powder would destl
ion the cabbages and worms alike, but
ION INGREDIENTS in the proportion named, "