Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
FARM AND FlREsIEDE


N r + 49, |
Some Manural Substances.
e 9naa POTASH.
The potash ingredient ofmanures has
been uniformly neglected, especially in
this country until within a very few
years perhaps because in part Of the
assertions of some investigators that it
existed fin plentiful quantities in soils
generally, and also on account OF the
scarcity Of the potash in cheap form.
But its Importance to crops is shown by
the following data: ''Birnbaum esti-
mates that crops abstract from the
soil per acre, an average amount OF
potash in the case of:
Grain crops about 2s.7llbs.
Meadows and pastures, s6.s8 :.
Most garden vegetables &hoed crops, III go :.
Glover and fodder crops, 6S20
Some special crops, 1900
Grape vines, 6SW
1.-THE same authority, in calculating
the average consumption Of soil con-
stituents in fourteen different cases OF
rotation, allowing the usual complement
of live stock and ordinary sales Of pro-
duce, finds that every acre losses an
nually: ia lbs. of potash, GA lbs. of
magnesia, ITO lbs. of lime, and 14.2
lbs. of phosphoric acid. 1t is stated by
Cordel, that the sugar-beet culture OF
Austria abstracts from the soil II, 300,-
600 lbs. of potash yearly, Of France
double that amount, Of Germany 49,
100000 lbs; and that the potatoes
(tubers) grown in Old Prussia remove
100000 lbs. Potash is prominent
in the ash of most plants, and in some
it is remarkably conspicuous; in these
cases ordinary practice has long shown
that It's application has been very efee-
tive. The ash of
Potatoes contains, ts.s per cent, of potash.
Sugar beets, root, 4s.9 3"
Tarnips, $40 F"
Corn, grain, 80
Grasses, from IS to $50 4"
''No less marked is the absence Of
this substance in the agricultural soil oil
most lands. The rocks containing
potash-felspar, etc.-disintegrate
slowly. and thus furnish potash but
slowly. Long continued cropping Of
the soil with plants rich in this sub
stance, and in improper rotation; sell
ing of the crops or their products, and
failure to return the plant food abstract
ed. has resulted in lmpoverfshing the
soil, especially Of potash and phospho-
ric acid. The waste Of liquid manures,
which carry with them most of the pot.
ash, has also aided in bringing about
this result"
Some soils probably do not need any
artificial application of potash. Such a
soil is that Of Mr.. Lawes' farm at Roth
amstead, England, for wheat. Of the
crop sold off, there was only i'll lbs. OF
potash per acre removed; which small
amount it seems would be supplied by
natural disintegration of the soil; or
could be returned in but single ton OF
barnyard manure. Another case is
that Of the soil Of the Experimental
Farm at West Grove, Chester Co. Pa,
where in the reported experiments OF
several years by Mr.. J. I. Carter, the
application of potash seems to have
given no additional yield for various
crops. In the case of Mr.. Lawes, how
ever, a good crop Of potatoes would
have removed nearly 100 lbs. of potash.
And an average Massachusetts crop of
Indian corn, according to Prof. Goess-
mann, abs tracts from an acre of land.
9l.37 lbs. In tho face of these facts.
and many others that might be given, it
is safe to conclude, that for most crops
and the generality of soils, potash is an
essential ingredient of fertilizers, Prof.
Stockbridge incorporates it in his for
mulas as one of the indispensables.
The potash Of barnyard manure is,
like its other fertilizing elements. not
Immediately available, though quite
soluble in water. Indeed, the greater
portion Of the potash of animal excre-
ments is found in the urine, because OF
its solubility, 1t being taken up by the
liquids in the digestive organs and
passes off with them. But we are sorry
to say, that the liquid portion of ma.
nure is, in the majority of cases, seldom
saved by farmers, hence a consequent
loss. But ofwhat is contained in the
solid dung it is so bound up in the coarse
particles as to be out of the reach o.
water, and perhaps also existing in
some comparatively insoluble combina-
tons. But in a year or so after appli.
cation the dung becomes thoroughly
decomposed, and the potash is separat.
ed by solution, and dif'used throughout
the soil. In the cultivation of the
sugar-beet it is found that the crop does
much better on dung the second year
than when first applied, and potash is a
special manure for this crop.
The exact effect of the various miner.
al ingredients of plant food is not very
well known. 1t is quite mystery that
they should be so Indispensable, since
they take no apparent part in the or.
ganized structure of the plant, existing
in solution in the fluids of the plant, or
occasionally in the form of crystals in
the cells. We venture the opinion that
the Office of the essential mineral con-
stitutents of plants is in chemical &C.
ton the fact of these minerals being
present in different combinations with
In the plant would seem to verify the
opinion. AS salts in solution, and as
ocids nv ho q oc afi,, m in 4 apnnJoo4lxx A. =: