Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-09-27

The value of leached ashes dry Soils and in dr.,
seasons, a manure for grain and grass lands ba
been conclusvely shown, in this and other countries
by carefully conducted experiments Yet, as il
seems useful and necessary to keep before the PEG
pie" such facts as not fully understood and con
sldered, we give some observations drawn from ex
periments heretofore published, for fear that this
subject in the hurry of the season. might otherwise
be neglected and forgotten.
The German agriculturst, Albert of ROszlan
gives circumstantial account of an experiment com
menced in 1927, and continued for five years A
dry, sandy soil, which had lain in grass for eight
years. was dressed with eached ashes at the rate OF
slxty-six bushels per acre The sod was first care.
fully turned under, then the ashes hauled on and
spread and covered with plough about two inches
Deep remaining in this condition six or seven weeks
1t was again p1oughed three inches deep, so as to
bring up the ashes, and sOWed to buckwheat A
portion of the field to which ashes were applied
was treated in the manner so that the differ
ence ght be noticed
The cost of the application was Sc Is per acre
The increased product of the first year was at the
rate of five and half bushels of buckwheat with
four hundred and seventy pounds of straw estima-
ted at 81 O6. The increased product of the second
year, when with rye, was six bushels per acre.
with six hundred pounds of straw. estimated at SIS
70. The increased product of the third year when
IN oats was ten and half bushels, with five hun
dred and fifty pounds of straw estimated at So 625
The fourth year the increased product when in pas
turage, was estimated at So per acre The fifth YEAR
C was again sOWn TO rye, and the Increased product
was four and half bushels with four hundred and
seventy pounds of straw, estimated at 81 O6 per
acre. The value of the increased product is 500 ::
and we have no reason to suppose their effects were
exhausted when the experiments were concluded
The estimates made by Mr. Wagner the trans
ator, from the prices paid at the time in this coun
try as also was the cost of the ashes and labor.
Unleached ashes produce more powerful effect.
and hence less quantity is required In the Alba
ny Culvator for 1912, the result of an experiment
is given, on an old meadow moved nearly half
centuryof clay SOIL stocked with all kinds of grass
where strong ashes were applied at the rate of thir
tytwo bushels per acre. producing an increased nro
duct OF nearly one-fourth of ton while the same
quantity of air-slaked lime produced no beneficial
result and thirtytwo bushels of clear dry cow-dunp
Increased the product only one hundred and four
pounds, and the same quantity of horse manure but
sixteen pounds per acre.
In the first of these experiments, four thousand
four hundred and twenty-five pounds of leached ash
es were applied producing in five years. an increase
OF four thousands three hundred and forty pounds
OF grain and straw, besides pasturage equivalent to
at least ton of hay In the second, about one ton
OF ashes increased the product in year. one-fourth
that amount of hay; and in favorable seasons we
cannot doubt but that its effect would continue at
the same rate for four years longer So the action
OF ashes must be chemical in its nature giving ca
paelty to appropriate other fertilizers which does
perhaps by imparting to tie soil its potash which
dIssoives the silica flint of the SOIL producing sill;
cate OF potash, which, according to Liebig. is reoi
red by all plants of the grass kind in large ouant
ties.
On wet ground, it should be borne in mind that
ashes produce no effect and in wet seasons the ben
ent Is mucn less than in dry--Rural New Yorker
RECIPE FOR PLAIN FRUIr CAKE-4 cups sugar IA