are impregnated; by boiling the liquor, and causing the steam that arises from the volatile alkali in a state of vapour, to pass into close vessels, in which such goods are, suspended. Soap is one of the most valuable articles in domestic economy: its uses in various manufactures require no description. The ashes, refuse, or waste, remaining after this compound is made, furnish an excellent manure. (See ASHES.) The suds, or water, in which soap has been dissolved, are of great service to gardeners; as they effectually destroy INSECTS in hothouses. (See also vol. 3. p. 331 and vol. 4. p. 110.) Farther, it appears from a patent granted, in June, 1780, to Mr. SAMUEL UNWIN, and which is now expired; that soap-suds, after being used in scowering, washing, &c. may be rendered sufficiently strong to serve the same purpose, repeatedly, and even for the re-production of soap. He directs any quantity of the suds (when rendered useless by the foul or greasy matters they may hold in solution) to be boiled over a brisk fire; in consequence of which, a scum of grease, oil, &c. will rise to the surface. This must be saturated or dissolved, by the gradual addition of pot-ash, or similar alkaline salt; the whole being stirred, till the scum disappear. The soapsuds, thus corrected, are now to boil for two hours, when the fire must be discontinued, in order that all feculent or earthy particles may subside. The liquor will then be found sufficiently purified, and may again be employed for scowering, &c. every time repeating the process before describ ed. In order to make soap of such rectified suds, the patentee directs any quantity to be drawn off into shallow vessels, in which it must be evaporated over the fire, till it acquire a due consistence; and, by adding the usual proportion of seasalt, the mixture will become hard, and possess all the properties of saponaceous matter. Soap is also of considerable utility in medicine: for this purpose, however, it is prepared without the aid of heat; the ley being filtred and concentrated by evaporation, to such a degree, that a phial capable of holding an ounce of water, will contain one ounce and 216 grains, or nearly 11 oz. of such lixivium. One part of the latter is then mixed with two parts of the oil of sweet-almonds, or of olives, in a stone vessel; the ingredients are occasionally stirred; and, in the course of a week, a firm white soap will be obtained. ....This compound is reputed for its efficacy in dispelling calculi, or stones, in the human body; and, when dissolved in ale, it has with advantage been administered in the jaundice. BOERHAAVE always prescribed it with resinous pills; as it contributes to decompose them in the stomach. But, of late years, soap has fallen into disrepute, and is now seldom employed in medicine; though we are informed by M. BELLOT, that soap-water has been given, with the happiest effects, to persons bitten by mad animals. There are numerous vegetables, that may afford proper substitutes for soap, in its various applications to domestic uses; but, as many of these have already been pointed out; and others will occur in the subsequent pages; we refer the reader to our General Index of Reference. SOAP-EARTH, or Steatites, L. a species of fossil, which abounds in Devonshire, Cornwall, and the islands in the vicinity of the Lizard Point. [It also abounds on the river Schuylkill, near Philadelphia.] It is generally of a white, or grey colour, intermixed with greenish or yellowish shades; is composed of very fine particles; of a firm, equal, and regular texture and is very heavy. Its surface is smooth and glossy; it feels soft and greasy; and neither melts in the mouth, nor adheres to the tongue, or stains the fingers. : This mineral may be formed into a paste with water, which is easily worked on the potter's wheel; and if, thus manufactured, it be exposed to an intense heat, it be comes so hard as to emit fire, when stricken against steel. taste, and in smell resemble those of liquorice: a strong tincture may be prepared, by digesting them in rectified spirits....In medicine, this plant is now exploded; but, in domestic economy, the sap expressed from the root, stalk, and leaves, may be employed as a substitute for soat, in cleansing raw or coarse cloth, and likewise for fine Haen, in the washing of which, it will save at least one-half of that expensive article, otherwise requir ed....Lastly, the admirers of winged insects may catch the most beautiful butterflies on the flowers of the common soap-wort, which are visited by them during twilight. The soap-earth possesses similar properties with Fuller's-earth, and is employed for the purpose of cleansing woollen cloths from grease: it does not, however, easily as clays; and, when digested with vitriolic acid, it forms a salt somewhat resembling that obtained by evaporating Epsom work so water. SODA, FOSSIL, OF MINERAL ALKALI, a peculiar salt, which is found native in various parts of the world; but, as the quantity thus obtained, is inadequate to its extensive consumption, various methods have been devised, for procuring it from sea-salt; and also by the burning of the salt-wort, together with other saline plants, which grow in the vicinity of the sea-coast...See BARILLA, and FosSIL ALKALI Few articles are of greater importance to the arts, manufactures, and domestic economy, than soda. It is indispensably necessary for SOAP-WORT, the COMMON, making hard soap; and also forms OF BRUISFWORT, Saponaria offici. an excellent substitute for this arnalis, L. a native perennial, grow- ticle: as four ounces of the foring in meadows and hedges; flow. mer, and six of the latter, are fully ering in July and August.....The equal to 16 ounces, or one pound leaves possess a disagreeable bitter of soap, for cleansing 14lbs. of taste: if bruised and agitated with cloth, by hand; while it softens water, they produce a saponaceous the hardest water: thus, a saving froth, which may serve for remov. will arise in the expence of from ing greasy spots from linen, as well gue-third to one-half, accordingly as woollen cloths; but it discharges as that operation is performed by no colours.... The roots are some- the hand, or by machines....The what pungent, have a sweetish superior effects of soda are fully evinced in the cleansing of fleecy hosiery, flannels, or worsted stockings; which, when managed with warm water, soap, and pot-ash, acquire an unpleasant odour, and are apt to shrink, in consequence of the rubbing, particularly if they be immersedia cold water: whereas, by using the fossil alkali, these inconveniencies are said to be completely avoided, and neither the quality of the goods will be impaired; nor the hands of women, when the soda is judiciously employed, be injured in the same manher, as generally happens by the common ley. Farther, as frequent bathing or washing of the body greatly conduces to health, it has been recommended to dissolve a small portion of soda in the water thus employed; or, at least to pass a towel wetted with a solution of soda and soap, over the surface; for such practice opens the pores, and removes the disagreeable odour arising from profuse perspiration....a similar application will be productive of equal advantage to horses that are employed for racing, postchaises, or other purposes, where great exertions are required. If a weak solution of soda be poured into foul bottles or casks, in which wine has been kept for a considerable time, it will completely dissolve the tartarous crust that is formed on their inner surface....boot-tops, saddles, or bridles, may with such liquid be effectually cleansed, while the original colour of the leather is preserved. This alkali may, likewise, be employed for sweetening kitchenutensils, and particularly for removing grease or acids from cop per vessels; because these concretions, when suffered to remain, form a strong poison, and may be productive of deleterious effects. In a similar manner, it may be used for tin and iron vessels, to prevent them from becoming rusty. Lastly, as the utensils of the dairy are apt to acquire an acid, disagreeable smell, during the summer, and particularly after a thunder-storm, though every attention be bestowed on them, such fetor may be completely removed by a small portion of soda, which will render the milk-vessels perfectly sweet; while it neutralizes and dispels the acid ferment imbibed by the wood, and which might otherwise taint the milk. The crystals of soda are not less useful in a medicinal point of view. Thus, a solution of this salt, is an excellent gargle for cleansing the throat, mouth, and gums, both in a sound and in a diseased or ulcerated state; while it whitens the teeth; and dissolves all incrustations that may be formed on their surface, without injuring their enamel. And, if a small quantity of this liquid be occasionally swallowed, after washing the fauces, it is said effectually to remove a fetid breath. Soda is, in many instances, preferable to magnesia, for correcting acidity in the stomach ; nay, it is even asserted, that it prevents the gout, gravel, stone, and similar disorders: lastly if the fossil alkali be mixed with cream of tartar, in the proportion of 14 parts of the former to 12 of the latter, it furnishes one of the mildest laxatives; namely. the Rochelle Salt....See also GLAUBER'S SALT. SOFT-GRASS, the MEADOW, or Holcus lanatus, L. a native pe rennial, growing in meadows and pastures, particularly in moist, light situations: it flowers in the months of June and July. This grass, though vegetating late in the season, is very productive; but is not much relished by cattle: it makes a soft, spongy hay, that is very hurtful to horses; which, by eating it, become affected with a profuse discharge of urine, and general weakness. In case any hay, obtained from this vegetable, be accidentally given to those valuable animals an immediate change of Another mode of examining the food will prevent its farther ill effects fertility of soils is, by calculating As the stalks of the meadow their specific gravity, when dried soft-grass attain a height of from at equal distances from the fire, in two to three feet, and the root is bladders furnished with small apereminently calculated for consoli- tures; and, after immersing them dating loose sandy soils, it merits in water, by accurately observing to be cultivated in such situations. the difference between their re[See GRASS.] spective weights, both in that fluid and in the air. But the most certaina criterion, by which to judge of the value of land, is afforded by attending to the growth and colour of the vegetables spontaneously Having already, under the ar- produced; and which in some ticles ARABLE LAND; LAND; measure indicate the nature of the MARSH; MOOR; &c. stated the soil beneath their roots. Thus, the most approved methods of reno- Fox-glove, and Sand-wort, abound vating or restoring exhausted soils, in sandy situations; the Brookand of converting them from a lime, and some species of Cresses, state of nature; we shall now com- in moist ground, the Corn Sawmunicate a few hints, by which wort, or Way-thistle, indicates a their quality may be ascertained. good, as the Dock shews an infeTo effect this purpose, BERG- rior, soil. Many plants might be MAN, FORDYCE, KIWAN, and added to this list; but, we shall other eminent chemists, have conclude with remarking, that if analyzed the constituent parts of an accurate Geographical Catalogne different soils, namely; carbon, of such vegetables, as grow in parlime, clay, and siliceous sand; and, ticular situations, were published according to the respective por- in every country, it would be of tions of these ingredients, they con- great service, in ascertaining the ceive that the relative fertility of degree of fertility, as well as the soils might be determined. But, nature of different soils. and uncertain, Dr. DARWIN proposes to dry a few pounds of different soils, in the same temperature when their moisture is evaporated, they must be weighed, and exposed to a red heat. As carbon is a principal ingredient in calcareous earths, he conjectures, that the soil which loses the greatest portion of its weight, is the most fertile; because the carbonic matter, being the principal nutriment of plants, will be dissipated in the flame. SOIL, signifies the ground or mould, in which vegetables grow; and which serves as a reservoir for receiving and dispensing their nu triment. as such analysis is very inaccurate [SOILING, the act of cutting grass for stall-feeding cattle; or, the practice of feeding cattle with cut grass. The superior economy of this practice, compared with that of pasturing, was fully pointed out under the article CATTLE. When treating of clover, an expected statement of the number of hogs soiled with clover, was promised. The particulars, however, did not arrive in time for insertion in the proper place, but were since communicated, and are as follow: Twenty-five shoats were fed for three months, with green clover, cut from less than one acre; they were then fed on Indian corn, and when killed, weighed three thousand pounds. Soiling has been uniformly recommended throughout this work, where the practice can be followed; but where it cannot be adopted, the English mode of pasturing, as detailed by Lord DUNDONALD should be followed, viz.; to keep the fat, half fed cattle, and the lean or young stock, in different inclosures. The fat cattle should only top the grass, the half fed should succeed those, and lastly, the lean or store cattle should follow on the same pasture, and eat the herbage close down: repeating this practice as often as the fresh growth of grass will permit. SOLIDAGO, Caria, Throatwort, Rattle-snake-Golden-rod........... This is a beautiful species of Solidagɔ, and a native of the United States: flowering in August and September. Many diverging slender stems arise from a root, and many corymbs or clusters of gol den yellow compound flowers, terminate the stems, forming a panicle. The leaves are lanciolate, and sharply serrated, ending in a slender or acute point. The stems are smooth, covered with a purple bark, softened by a glacous nibule, or mist, and of a very pungent taste, somewhat similar to the Radix Senega (Seneka snakeroot). The Indians use this plant as a cure for the bite of the rattlesnake, applied externally and internally. They also prescribe it in strong decoction, as a gargle, and diet-drink for the sore-throat. WM. BARTRAM.] Its SOLOMON's-SEAL, the SWEET-SMELLING, or Convallaria Polygonatum, L. a native perennial, which grows in mountainous woods, and the fissures of rocks, principally in the county of York: it flowers in the months of May and June. This vegetable is eaten by sheep and goats, but is refused by horses, hogs, and cows. roots consist of a pulpy, tuberous, white, sweet, and mucilaginous substance: in times of scarcity, they have been converted into a wholesome bread; and are always used for that purpose, by the lower classes in Sweden and Russia: a good starch may likewise be extracted from them; and the expressed juice being somewhat acrid, serves as a cosmetic, or a lotion for pimples, &c. The young shoots of this, as well as of the following species may, in the spring, be eaten like asparagus. SOLOMON's-SEAL, the COMMON, or Convallaria mulidora, L. is also perennial; grows in woods and thickets: and flowers in May or June. This plant is eaten by cows, goats, and sheep; it possesss the properties of the preceding, but in an inferior degree; and to which it bears so close a resemblance, that it can be distinguished only by its smaller, white flow |