UPLATNENIE DREVÍN A RASTLÍN V SKLÁRSTVE

In the article woods and plants are given, which were used in glass production as firewood, for production of potash, glassworker’s moulds, and handles of implements or for molten glass purification. Wood of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) was the most calorific and very frequently used in glassmaking workshops. Developing glass production resulted in increasing wood usage and caused its subsequent shortage. The beech wood was substituted for less calorific woods of oak (Quercus sp.), ash (Fraxinus sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), spruce (Picea sp.), maple (Acer sp.) or willow (Salix sp.). The beech wood was exclusively used for production of potash, what is chemical matter added to glass batch to influence a glass melt quality. Shortage of this wood forced glassmakers to look for new raw materials with high alkaline content. Abundant plant material that was usable was offered by straw of cereals: wheat (Triticum sp.), barley (Hordeum sp.), sunflower (Helianthus sp.), maize (Zea mays), leaves of bean (Phaseolus sp.), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), pressed remains of grapes (Vitis sp.) and waste from distillation of spirit from sugar-making molasses (beta vulgaris). Wild plants of thistle (Cardus sp.), celandine (Chelidonium sp.), nettle (Urtica sp.) and aubergine (Solanum sp.) were usable as well. One thousand kilograms of beech wood was used to produce 1 kg of potash, while 25 kg of potash could be made from sunflower remains. Physical qualities of beech wood met all requirements of production of glass moulds or implement handles. The wood of pear (Pyrus sp.) and plum (Prunus sp.) are known to be used as well. Although there were attempts to substitute the beech wood for another woods and plants, no alternative raw material compared to beech wood. This was achieved by chemically produced mineral salts only.