Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
A.... Lssen.a and unI.aehea.

The value of ashes, both leached aud un-
leacLed, for fertilizng purposes, is not gem
orally understood, though the ameliorating
effects Of an application Of ashes TO almost
all classes of soils, have been noticed by
observing farmers and others for long
time. The action of ashes is two-iold; they
supply inorganic constituents that are re-
quired by plant-growth, and they act chem
ically as solvents upon other insoluble mat
ters already in tue soil. They likewise
neutralize acids, etc. They are more bene-
fetal to sandy and gravelly lands than TO
those that are clayey, as the latter are chief
ly formed of granite rocks, which natural
~ contain potash. To plants that contain a
considerable amount of alkaline matters,
such as turnips, beets, potatoes, carrots,
etc., ashes are an essential manure. All
legumiDous plants, as clover, peas, beans,
etc., are also benefited by the use of ashes
applied as a manure. As top-dressiug TO
grass land, the beneficial effects of ashes
consist in promoting the growth Of while
clover, and roofing out moss, and other
noxious growths, which detract from the
value of such lands. They may be applied
too literally TO thin soils, unless mixed
with barn-yard manure, muck, or peat.
Applied to red clover they act more effect
ually when mixed with plaster.
The difference between leached and un
leached ashes when applied to land, is
this leached ashes act more rapidly, and
their effects are more powerful, than I'M
leached, but the benefits impaired by the
latter are more lasting than those rendered
by the former From analyses it is found
that by teaching little else is removed than
a considerable portion of the potash, soda,
and sulphuric acid, a notable quantity of
the alkalies remaining behind. According
to Dana, bushel of good ashes contains
about 81 pounds of potash. In teaching
ashes, generally about one peck OF unslack
ed lime is added TO each bushel of ashes,
for the purpose of depriving the potash of
its carbon. AS no bulk is lost in the opcr
alton, a cord (12S cubic feet of lesched ash
es contains about the following proportions
allowing an average of ~ lbs. per bushel
to be leached OUT of the constituents nam
ed: Phosphoric acid III lbs. slick 146 lbs. ;
oxide OF iron II lbs. oxide of manganese 81
lbs. msgnesia ll9 lbs. carbonate of lime
that is added in teaching, 3.OO77 lbs. pot
ash combined with silica, so lbs. 1t will
be seen that leached ashes belong to the
carbonates and are worth to the farmer
much more than is generally supposed.
They are nearly as valuable ia agriculture
as unleached, though, as we have already
remarked, the latter produce observable
effects on the soil for a longer period.
nrroa 90 ,.I,a q, al,... ...1
condition of the soil is worthy OF notice al
so. BY their use, sandy soils are rendered
more compact, and thus more capable of
retaining water, while heavy clays are
made more friable. In general practice
ashes should be incorporated in the soil,
and not leIt on the surface by the latter
method plants can receive benefit from
them only so far as the rain carries the SOL
uble portion down to the roots while when
incorporated with the earth previous to
putting seed in the ground, the roots and
chemical action will utilize elements not
available by the other method. The seeds
of plants, however, should not come into
contact with ashes not thoroughly incor-
porated in the SOIL for obvious reasons. All
mineral manures require to be thoroughly
mixed with the soil, if their useful effects
are to be realized. In this way their action
cial, while on the other hand, their injudi-
cous and careless use may be hurtful.-
Western Rural.