The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-05-03
Prom The Country Grnllem.a.
Value Of Ashes In Agriculture.

EDS. Co. 6ESr. AND crLrIrAroR.-
The following extract from letter re
ceived by me, explains ihe origin O
this article, whiek is at your service
for publication If yoa thisk desirable :
Soliciting respectfully some informa.
tion concerning the best and most pro,
fitable mode oi using ashes. taking into
consideration tae kind Of soil, also the
crop. time To apply. quantity. manage.
ment, &C.. items VI great importance
to farmers" (SignedD
Yours, &c., Rev. -.
DsAR SR:-yours of the esd ult.,
making inquiries about the best me-
thod Of using ashes as a manure, was
duly received. and ! am happy to oblise
you with any information in my pow,
er.
The inorganic part of all plants Il e.
the ash, although differing in some
particulars. yet so uniformly contains
the same leading elements, viz: lime,
potash, soda, magnesia and phospho-
rus. that ashes must always be of some
benefit to them all. However. in ad.
dition to furnishing these elementary
bodies to plants. they have other be-
ne6cial action--as chemical, in render
ing insoluble bodies soluble, neutral
lzing acids, inducing and aiding fer-
mentation-or mechanical. as tending
to loosen or solidify the soil. These
various effects Of course will depend
upon the kind Of soil to which they are
applied, and other attendant circam,
stances. III applied TO sour or peaty
soils containing much inert vegetable
matter, ITS acids will be neutraIised
and decomposition promoted. But if
the soil is sandy, the alkali will favor
the solution Of the silica. forming sill,
Gates SO necessary to the growth of the
straw Of grain and grass.
AS ashes have tendency to liberate
ammonia from its combinations, they
should never be mixed with guano or
any heterogeneous manure, unless alb
sorbents are present in large quantity
to retain it as soon as it is set free.
This is readily shown by mixing lit
tie ashes with moistened guano. or in
heap of fresh barnyard manure.
As ashes are in part readily soluble,
they ought TO be applied only during
the growing season. Leached ashes
still retain their lime and phosphoric
acid ; therefore, although their effects
are not so Immediately visible. vet they
possess high value, and their influence
is very enduring.
The locality aud circumstances alone
must decide to what crops ashes must
be applied. As they contain no weed
seeds. they are favorite dressing for
all hoed crops. Mixed with plaster,
in the proportions of three of ashes and
one Of plaster, have used them with
the greatest apparent benefit on corn,
potatoes and roots, putting a small
handful on each hill of corn and pota-
toes when they first appear above
ground, and sowing the mixture on tur-
nips and other roots. The color of the
leaves soon changes to a rich, darker
green, and the plant assumes an ap-
pcarance of greater luxuriancc. Carr
rot and beet seed, soaked twenty-four
hours, and rolled in ashes, come up
stronger, andofa finer color than with.
out the application.
By the use of ashes on cold, damp
meadow, the moss is eradicated, as the
increased growth of the valuable grass.
cs soon overpowers it; but thorough
draining must also be employed to pro-
duce permanent results. In making
composts, which consist mostly of turf
or peat, ashes are very valuable, as
they aid much in deeomposing such
bodies.
have no experience in the use of
ashes ON light sandy land, but have no
doubt Of their high value there also.
As a manure for fruit trees they are
invaluable, containing as they do, all
the nitrogenous bodies stimulating to
over luxuriance.
Ashes differ very much in their cha
racter and qualities, depending ON the
Kind of wood from which they are made,
and the circumstances under which
it is burnt. When they are formed
in a common stove and removed daily,
there will remain many fragments of
charcoal, largely increasing the bulk
made from given quantity Of wood.
A cord Of wood thus managed, may
yield barrel or more, while burnt in
an air tight stove where the ashes are
rarely removed, it would not make a