To set the leach, bore several holes in the bottom of a barrel, or
use one without a bottom; prepare a board larger than the barrel,
then set the barrel on it, and cut a groove around just outside the
barrel, making one groove from this to the edge of the board, to carry
off the lye as it runs off, with a groove around it, running into one
in the centre of the board. Place all two feet from the ground and tip
it so that the lye may run easily from the board into the vessel below
prepared to receive it. Put half bricks or stones around the edge of
the inside of the barrel; place on them one end of some sticks about
two inches wide, inclining to the centre; on those place some straw to
the depth of two inches, over it scatter two pounds of slaked lime.
Put in ashes, about half of a bushel at a time, pack it well, by
pounding it down, and continue doing so until the barrel is full,
leaving a funnel-shaped hollow in the centre large enough to hold
several quarts of water. Use rain-water boiling hot. Let the water
disappear before adding more. If the ashes are packed very tightly
it may require two or three days before the lye will begin to run, but
it will be the stronger for it, and much better.
To Make Boiled Soft Soap.--Put in a kettle the grease consisting of
all kinds of fat that has accumulated in the kitchen, such as scraps
and bones from the soup-kettle, rinds from meat, etc.; fill the kettle
half full; if there is too much grease it can be skimmed off after the
soap is cold, for another kettle of soap. This is the only true test
when enough grease is used, as the lye will consume all that is needed
and no more. Make a fire under one side of it. The kettle should be in
an out-house or out of doors. Let it heat very hot so as to fry; stir
occasionally to prevent burning. Now put in the lye a gallon at a
time, watching it closely until it boils, as it sometimes runs over at
the beginning. Add lye until the kettle is full enough, but not too
full to boil well. Soap should boil from the side and not the
middle, as this would be more likely to cause it to boil over. To test
the soap, to one spoonful of soap add one of rain-water; if it stirs
up very thick, the soap is good and will keep; if it becomes thinner,
it is not good. This is the result of one of three causes, either it
is too weak, or there is a deposit of dirt or it is too strong.
Continue to boil for a few hours, when it should flow from the stick
with which it is stirred like thick molasses; but if after boiling it
remains thin, let it stand over night, removing it from the fire, then
drain it off very carefully into another vessel, being very
particular to prevent any sediment from passing. Wash the kettle,
return the soap and boil again, if dirt was the cause; it will now be
thick and good; otherwise if it was too strong, rain-water added
will make it right, adding the water gradually until right and just
thick enough.