SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                SCHEDULE 13D
                               (Rule 13d-101)

                 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                             (Amendment No. 3)


                          Melamine Chemicals, Inc.
                              (Name of issuer)


                                Common Stock
                       (Title of class of securities)


                                 585332 10 9
                               (CUSIP number)


                             Thomas L. Feazell
                             1000 Ashland Drive
                             Russell, KY 41169
                               (606) 329-3403
               (Name, address and telephone number of person
             authorized to receive notices and communications)


                              October 10, 1997
          (Date of event which requires filing of this statement)

     If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G
to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing  this  schedule  because  of  Rule  13d-1(b)(3)  or (4),  check  the
following box. X




CUSIP No.  585332 10 9                      13D


1        NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS  Ashland Inc.
         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
         61-0122250


2        CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP     (a)
                  Not Applicable                              (b)

3        SEC USE ONLY


4        SOURCE OF FUNDS
                  WC

     5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEM 2(d) or 2(e) Not Applicable

6        CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                  Kentucky

       NUMBER OF               7    SOLE VOTING POWER
        SHARES                              1,275,000 shares
     BENEFICIALLY              8    SHARED VOTING POWER
       OWNED BY                             0
         EACH                  9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
       REPORTING                            1,275,000 shares
      PERSON WITH             10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                            0

11       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                  1,275,000 shares

12       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
                  Not Applicable

13       PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                  23.4%

14       TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                                                                 CO




                     Securities and Exchange Commission
                           Washington, D.C. 20549
                                Schedule 13D


     Ashland Inc.  ("Ashland")  hereby amends and  supplements its Schedule
13D (the "Schedule 13D")  originally filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "Commission") on June 30, 1997, as amended by an Amendment
No. 1 (the "Amendment No. 1"), filed with the Commission on August 14, 1997
and Amendment No. 2 (the  "Amendment  No. 2"), filed with the Commission on
August 26, 1997, relating to Ashland's ownership of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of Melamine  Chemicals,  Inc. ("MCI"), as set forth in this
Amendment  No 3.  Capitalized  terms not defined  herein have the  meanings
assigned thereto in the Schedule 13D.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction:

     Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add at the end thereof
the following:

     "On October 10, 1997, Ashland Inc. issued a press release stating that
     on October 9, 1997 Melamine Chemicals, Inc. and Borden Chemicals, Inc.
     announced that a definitive  agreement had been reached which provides
     for Borden Chemicals,  Inc. to purchase all the outstanding  shares of
     Melamine  Chemicals,  Inc. for $20.50 per share, to be paid in cash at
     closing.

     In response to the  announcement,  Paul W. Chellgren,  Chairman of the
     Board and Chief Executive  Officer of Ashland Inc. stated that Ashland
     was  pleased  that the  process of selling  Melamine  Chemicals,  Inc.
     appears to have been  successful.  He stated that "While we  currently
     have only limited information regarding the offer, at this price level
     Ashland Inc. would be  willing to withdraw its $14.75 per share offer
     and  tender  its  shares."  Ashland  currently  owns 23.1  percent  of
     Melamine."

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits:

     Item 7 of the  Schedule  13D is hereby  amended  to add the  following
exhibit:

     (1)  The Acquisition of Issuer Control,  Liquidation,  Sale of Assets,
          Merger, or Change in Business or Corporate Structure:

          Exhibit 99.1 -   Ashland Inc. press release dated October 10, 1997.








                                 SIGNATURE

         After  reasonable  inquiry  and to the  best of my  knowledge  and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.



                                      October 10, 1997

                                       /s/ Thomas L. Feazell
                                      ------------------------------
                                      Thomas L. Feazell
                                      Senior Vice President, General
                                      Counsel and Secretary





                               EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.                 Description
- -------        ---------------------------------------------------------------

99.1                Ashland Inc. press release dated October 10, 1997.




NEWS FROM ASHLAND                              [ASHLAND LOGO]


                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

                                            Doug Sheils
                                            (606) 329-3587

                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                              October 10, 1997


Chellgren responds to Melamine Chemicals, Inc. definitive agreement

Ashland,  Ky. -- In a news release Thursday  evening,  Melamine  Chemicals,
Inc. and Borden  Chemicals Inc.  announced that a definitive  agreement has
been reached which  provides for Borden  Chemicals,  Inc to purchase all of
the outstanding shares of Melamine Chemicals, Inc. for $20.50 per share, to
be paid all in cash at closing.
         In response to the  announcement,  Paul W. Chellgren,  chairman of
the board and chief  executive  officer  of Ashland  Inc.,  which owns 23.1
percent of  Melamine,  said,  "We are  pleased  that the process of selling
Melamine  Chemicals,  Inc.  appears  to  have  been  successful.  While  we
currently have only limited information  regarding the offer, at this price
level Ashland Inc.  would be willing to withdraw its $14.75 per share offer
and tender its shares.  We look forward to reviewing  the  specifics of the
Borden Chemical offer."
         Ashland  Inc. is a large energy and  chemical  company  engaged in
petroleum refining and marketing;  coal; and highway construction.  Ashland
Chemical is the largest  distributor  of  chemicals  and  plastics in North
America and a leading supplier of specialty chemicals worldwide.  Ashland's
major consumer brands include  Valvoline(R) motor oils, Zerex(R) antifreeze
and Pyroil(R)  Performance  Products  automotive  chemicals.  As one of the
largest  independent  refiners  in the  nation,  Ashland  is also a leading
regional   gasoline   marketer,    with   products   marketed   under   the
SuperAmerica(R) and Ashland(R) brand names.
         Ashland's Internet address is  http://www.ashland.com

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