The Republican journal., 1877-08-23
Ashes Leached and Unleached.

The following, taken from the editori-
al columns of the Western Rural, may
help to answer the question recently asked
by one OF the correspondents, as to the
comparative and actual value of wood
ashes, both leached and unleached, for
agricultural purposes
The value of ashes. both uneached and
leached, for fertilizing purposes, is not
generally understood, though the amel-
loratlng effects of an application of ashes
to almost all classes of soils, have been
noticed by observing farmers and others
for Il long time The action Of ashes is
tWo-told; they supply inorganic constitu-
entS that are required by plant growth,
and they act chemically as solvents upon
other insoluble matters already in the
soil. They likewise neutralize acids, etc
They are more beneficial to sandy and
gravelly lands than to those that are
clayey, as the latter are chiefly formed of
granite rocks, which naturally contain
potash. 10 plants that contain a con
siderable amount of alkaline matters,
such as turnips, beets, potatoes, carrots,
etc, ashes are an essential manure. All
legumous plants, us clover, peas, beans,
etc, are also benefited by the use of ash
cs applied as Il manure. As a top dress
inc to grass land, the beneficial effects Of
ashes consist in promoting the growth of
white clover, and roofing out moss, and
othernoNious growths, which detract from
the value of such lands. They may be
applied too literally to thin soils, unless
mixed with barnyard manure, muck, or
peat. Applied To red clover they act
more etfcctually when mixed with plaster.
The difference between leached and un-
leached ashes when applied to land, is
this: cached ashes act more rapidly, and
their effects are more powerful, than un-
leached, but the benefits impaired 10y the
latter, are more lasting than those rem
dered by the former. From analyses it
is found that by teaching little else is re
moved than a considerable portion Of the
potash soda, and sulphsric acid, Il nota-
bic quantity of the alkalics remaining
behind. According to Dana, a bushel of
good ashes contains about 81 pounds of
potash. In teaching ashes, generally about
one peek of unslacked lime is added to
each bushel Of ashes for the purpose of
depriving the potash of its carbon. AS
no bulk is lost i'll the operation, a cord
Q2S cubic feet) of leached ashes contains
about the following proportions (allOWing |
an average OF u lbs. per bushel to be
leached outl OF the constituents named =
PhoSphoric acid III lbs sieX ll6 lbs. : |
oxide Of iron II lbs. oxide of manganese
81 lbs. magnesia ll9 lbs. : carbonate of |
lime that is added in teaching, BOOT lbs. ; |
potash combined with silica, 80 lbs 1t |
will be seen that lcached ashes belong to |
the carbonatcs and are worth to the farm |
er much more than is generally supposed, |
They are nearly as valuable in agricul- |
ture as unleaChed, though. as we have al |
ready remarked, the latter produce OBJ |
Seryable effects on the soil for Il longer |
period.
The effect of ashes on the mechanical |
condition OF the soil is worthy of notice |
also. BY their use, sandy soils are rem |
defcd more compact and thus more Ca
pable of retaining water, while heavy |
clays are made more triable. In general !
practice ashes Shonld be Incorporated in |
the soil, and not left on the surface by |
the latter method plants can receive ben
eft from them only 50 far Us the rain ear |
ricS the soluble portion down to the roots:
WINE Mlltn Incorporated WIN tnc eafll |
previous to putting seed in the ground, |
the roots and chemical action will utilize |
elements not available by the other meth
od. The seeds of plants, however, should |
not come into contact with ashes not |
thoroughly Incorporated in the soil, for |
obvious reasons. All mineral manures |
require to he thoroughly mixed with the |
soil, ittheir useful effects are to be realized. !
In this way their action under the right |
conditions is highly beneficial. while on
the other hand, their injudicious and |
careless use may be hurttul.