The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-25
Manurial Value Of Wood Ashes.

NEW land is proverbially good, not
that it has more largely the elements of
fertility in general, as the trees take care
that this is not the case, using up what
nutriment is annually furnished by the
leaves; but it owes its value to the pot
ash left after the land is burned over, as
is the case also in breaking up the prai-
rie. The principle will be clearly seen
by giving it a single thought. The
ashes furnish the mineral or inorganic
part, the atmosphere the rest, the soil
containing sufficient other material (hu-
mus, clay, sand, etc. for basis. But
science or philosophy aside, it has been
found that ashes are superior benefit.
Around an old heap of spent ashes there
will always be circle of rank growth,
usually of grass and weeds of blush
color. This is found to be the case
whatever the soil may be. In the
strongest garden soil l have noticed 1t,
and also in very poor land. Unleached
ashes have still more marked effect,
showing the Importance of potash as
manure. The tests that have been
made, SO far as am cognizant, alway S
show that the growth, especially OF
grass, corresponds TO the amount of
ashes applied; and the amount may be
iarge--seventy to eighty bushels per
acre, and even more. The benefit will
show at once, but not all of it, as the
ashes do not give up at once all they
contain, being dissol-od slowly, so as to
supply potash for several years. This is
my experience, and believe. the uni
form experience of every ene.- The
reason why ashes are not more highly
valucd-are not valued for what they are
worth-is that they are too sparngly
used. When sown on meadows few
bushels to the acre are all that are used.
As but part is dissolved the first year,
it will be readily seen that the effect
must be small, less so than that OF plas-
ter, though plaster is one of the ingre-
dents of ashes. .-...4.. ...s-
But there are not enough ashes to SOW
largely, and portion of what we have
are permitted to go 10 waste; particular
ly is this the case with leached ashes
yet they are nearly as good as unleached
and equally lasting We ought to save
every particle of our ashes in cluding the
SCOT from the stovepipes and chimneys.
We want them for special uses-to
manure our grapevines and fruit trees,
and to use in our gardens, dooryards and
lawns. Each farmer or owner of land, if
he burns wood, makes enough ashes for
these purposes. The extent of land on
which they are used being circum-
scrioed, they may be used plentifully, in
which case the effect will not fail to be
highly satisfactory. I have used them
on grapevines with the most gratifying
results, applied mostly as cover to the
mu CHI, having the property to keep this
moist as well as tolmpart fertility; hence
they are particularly excellent in a
drought. Not only is the growth OF the
wood advanced, but that of the fruit
also, and have become convinced that
by the use of ashes the flavor of fruit in
general is improved. l know that in
connection with thorough drainage this
has proved to be the case. Particularly
are lawns and dooryards in grass bene-
flied by ashes. Apply at the. rate OF
sixty or eighty bushels per acre, more
or less, according to whether the ashes
are made of hard or soft woodward
wood ashes being the best. A coat ap-
piled once in three or four years will do
On grapevines, fruit trees and the garden
in general find yearly or biennial appli
cations most satisfactory. OF course d
less quantity is to be used at each appli
cation. asa .r y 3 .--.r-.. 80
Save all ashes carefully during the
winter, and apply early in the spring
Remember the leached article is nearly
as good as the unleached.: Let the soap
making be done early in the spring. 81
as to apply The spent ashes early
Country Gentleman. ~