Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-11
Barlu \ fMirside,
For the Delaware Tribune.

For the Doiawhre, Tribune. ~ b. 4
Substitution 81 Lina1 fsr Potash IN
Agriculture.
There is an axiom in mathematics-which
must be rejected by the practical farmer
viz. "Things that are equal to the same
thing are equal to each other" The chem
list conveys the same Idea by the word ESQ
morphous-whlch means that the integrity
of certain compounds may be preserved al
though other substances than their true ele-
ments are substituted therefor-for instance
Alum is composed Of Alumnia and POTASH
but Iron and Ammonia can take their places
and still we call 1t Alum, or "Rose Alum
So also In mechanics. A brick may be re-
moved from house and block of wood
substituted therefor and painted-stili the
house is called Ga brick house," although
really one half of the bricks are of wood
The farmer may substitute the jack
ass for the horse = or fatten his
hogs on acorns or "mash" instead of corn,
and feed his cows on refuse of the distillery
as substitute for grass and hay; but in the
latter cases he fully appreciates the degrade
ton of the results and their inferior, defective
and unwholesome character 1t is, however,
difficult for him to appreciate his loss upon
substituting one manure for another which
produces apparently the same effect,
especially if cheaper and more convenient,
which is no doubt the argument for the use
of the swill tub of the brewer in the pro-
duction of milk for the New York market
The fact that grape vines can be induced TO
substitute lime for potash was first brought TO
my notice. believe, during the session 81 tic
National Scientific Convention in Baltimore
many years since The apparent success of
the grape in some alluvial soils in our
Western country was thus accounted for.
Where potash is deficient in the soil aud
lime, to some extent, is substituted by the
grape. Perhaps this will account for the
fact that we do not hear Of the production
of cream Of tarter in our Western States,
which is imported so largely from Europe
under the name of argol or sired tartar
the crust that forms ON the wine casks from
which all our tartarc acid, and cream of
tartar, or bitartrate of potash is made. In
the natural locality of the grape, whea nour-
lshed from the soil of primitive rocks, rich
in the potash minerals-or volcanic dust
rich in potash Cor the pozzolano) that pro-
duces such exquisite potatoes in Bermuda
the natural juice of the grape contains so
much of this super-iartrate of potash, that
1t crystallizes as the wine is formed
during Notwithstanding insoluble in
alcohol, and this is the reason why the
resulting wine is not acid.% Now we NAV
reasonably infer that the wheat produced on
the most fertile aluyial soils (and from many
others where potash is relatively deficienD
shall never equal that Of California aud Italy
in quality If compelled to substitute lime for
potash. The improvement in The quantity |
Of the cereals and grasses after the addition |
of lime is not the point At issue, but we
contend that no perfect cereal, much l9ss
can perfect peach tree, be maintained with
out liberal use Of potash properly com
bined with all the other elements Of soil
plant food-as the supply Of potash manures
is now so abundant and accessible at cheap |
rates on our seaboard-a word to the wise IA |
sufficient Perhaps we may also clip frag-
ment OF the experience OF Europeans who |
have apparently watched more narrowly the |
effects resulting from the gradual deterora.
ton of soils during longer periods
NJ. Stromeyen SAYS in Dingler's Polytech-
nisches Journal-"A soil which has grown |
clover for some years soon yields a poor
harvest, the ashes of the clover then show |
but about one tenth of their former proper |
tion of potash, and soil which had con
tanned 1874 parts of potassa in 10000, then
has but parts In the cultivation of the
sugar beet it has been often observed tia,
Notwithstanding the liberal addition of phos- |
phoric acid (superphosphates or bones. the
amount of sugar suddenly falls Of because
the soil had lost so much potash.
DAVID STEWART, VI. b.
March 9th, 1869. Port Penn, Del