Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-23
AarifuItural Rraoina.
ASHES AS MANURE.

ASHES AS MANURE.
For certain kinds of soil no material
application is more valuable than wood
Iashes. Theoretical chemists tell us that
ashes furnish elements essential TO the
constitution of plants, and that they are
most effective on soils deficient in the
particular elements usually contained in
ashes. Without discussing this theory.
or attempting to settle the mooted ques-
lion whether any material elements are
necessary to be supplied as specific nu-
triment to plants on soils generally, we
may refer to one point on which there is
little or no dispute. All agree that de-
caying organic substances (animal or
vegetable) when undergoing decomposi-
ton, furnish valuable food or stimu-
liant to growing plants. Now most soils,
especially those subject to standing water,
contain more or less valuable matter,
such as roots of grasses, &c, which have
acquired kind of aSphatic or carbona-
ceouS condition and decomposition has
been arrested. An alkali-caustic po-
fash, lime or magnesia-added to such a
soil acts upon the vegetable Fastening
its decay, and fitting it TO nourish plants.
Too much alkali added in single sea-
son may decompose the organic matter
faster than is needed, and much of it
will be lost, and thus needlessly impover-
ish the soil. This is the frequent result
of over-liming land.
In very many cases soils are acid,
(sour,) and on these the alkalies are va
liable to neutralize the acids and sweeten
them.
Lime is much used. on account of its
cheapness, but it is far less soluble than
potash. Indeed, the carbonate of lime
is scarcely soluble at all, while carbonate
of potash is very readily soluble. Lime
acts more to harden the soil. For these
reasons alone potash is much more valu-
able than lime to the farmer.
The only cheap available source of
potash is unleached wood ashes. The
ashes of oak wood have often yielded
six, eight and ten per cent of potash,
and those of beech wood nearly twice as
much. In teaching ashes, it is princi-
pally this potash that is washed out. and
on this account leached ashes are of
small value to cold, damp, sour land.
For dry, warm, sandy soils, the ashes
are not, as a general thing, beneficial
but on peat, or muck swamps, or clay
lands, and on wet loans, they are almost
invaluable. No farmer should sell his
ashes at anything like the usual price
obtained for them. Good ashes are
cheaper to use upon the soil at twenty
five cents per bushel, than slaked lime
at half the price.
Coal ashes have also higher value
than is usually attached to them. Sew
eral careful analyses of the bituminous
coal ashes have shown l - to 3 per
cent of potash, while all hard coal Yields
asmall percentage. Besides this, most
families burning hard coal use more or
less wood, or wood coal, in kindling fires
which furnishes additional potash. From
several analyses of hard coal asEes and
cinders, as well as from many expert
mentS upon soils, we think no one having
the smallest plot of land should throw
away coal ashes. Let them be saved
carefully, and add to the soil. putting
them especially upon the coolest, wettest
portions.-Am. Ag.