22
or five years old, and distant from a communication with fresh-water rivers. All the sand ought carefully to be washed from the ware when cutting, and the remainder, if any, shaken off while drying.
Particular attention should be had that no sand be mixed in the kiln when burning. The pernicious effects of sand are twofold; first, robbing the purchaser, making him pay for sand instead of kelp; and, 2dly, what is still worse, kelp burnt with sand is converted into a kind of vitrified substance, and from which it is next to impossible for the soap-maker to extract the alkali.
Kelp is always esteemed the best which is hardest, finest grained, and free from sand or earth. Sea-ware is a most useful article otherwise, besides the making of soap: it is an excellent manure for land, for which purpose it is often applied in the maritime parts of Scotland and other countries.
