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This low, dirty, and abominable fraud, is but too frequently practised, not only by kelp-burners, but barilla-makers also; that is, mixing sand with their commodity while manufacturing, and in a liquid state.
The process I have used for detecting sand is simple, and not tedious, viz. take two ounces of a fair sample from any parcel meant to be purchased; beat it down in a mortar very small, pour some boiling water upon it, and rub it well in the mortar; pour off this, and add more, and so continue until all the black light substance is gone off with the water. The sand will then be found in the bottom of the mortar, and, if surveyed with a magnifier, will resemble in appearance small pebble stones, or channel, of various colours. Dry and weigh the sand; and from the quantity contained in the two ounces, a calculation may be made for the hundred weight or ton.
