Ellsworth American., 1877-05-31
9arn' anO honstbolO.
Paste. and Ashes fer cora aai Potatoes.

The theory of the action of plaster,
sulphate of lime. according TO Dana :
"Muck Manual" is explained as iol-
lows: suppose plaster or gypsum has
been applied; the effects OF buehel oil
plaster per acre, or even the iour'hnhd-
redth part of one per cent. OF the soii'
proAucc effects on alluvial land, which
shows its good results, as Tar as eye can
reach. 1t seems almost incredible that
so minute portion of mineral can act
at all, vet how beautifully is this result
explained, by the principle that plants
decompose, first, this salt; the lime, Tor
plaster is a sulphate of lime, then acts
on geine, which is thus rendered solu-
bic: while the acid, the oil of vitriol or
sulphuric acid. Immediately acts on slll-
Gates. II silicaics of alkali exist III the
soil. we have now changed sulphate OF
lime for an alkaline sulphate, and II sill
cate of lime is also present, the potash
OF alkali, having been exhausted. plaster
of paris is formed anew. SO long as
there is in the soil organic matter, this
action continues, and will continue TIL
the plant has gradually withdrawn for
its own use, the acid of the salt which
was introduced"
In relation to ashes, one portion Is
soluable in water. By teaching, she pot
ash is set free. The value Of potash TO
the soil is TOO we'll known to be here re-
peated One hundred parts of hard
wood ashes contain, by analysis, 1897
parts soluable and So 43 parts insoluble
in water, if perfectly separated. The
soluable portion acts directly. One
hundred parts of the insoluble portion
consists of lime, 5o.35; carbonic acid,
35s3; maguesia, 4.55; phosphoric acid.
5 40: the balance being silex. and oxides
Of iron and magnese. Therefore, the
soil being deficient in potash, the ashes
would be- all right, even by itself or in
connection with plaster.
The effect of ashes on sandy lad is TO
render the soil compact, in addition 10
the effect from the absorption OF the sol,
uble portions of the ashes. Carbonic
acid and the carbonates decompose pot
ash, soda, lime, nagnesia, alumina and
the metallic oxides, and set them free.
II silicate of alumina exists, the soil be-
comes more clayey, while the carbonic
acid again acts upon the silicates OF al
kalies and forms carhonates of alkalies. |
Ashes act thus b. their carbonates of
lime freeing the alkali of the silicates OF
potash.
The alkali Of ashes also acts in hasten !
ing the decay Of vegetable fiber, and |
converting il into geine, a most Import |
ant element OF The soil. y notable fact
is that q small portion of alkali may
render an indefinite quantity of geine |
soluble. So also it is supposed that all
the alkaline earths and oxide of iron and
manganese, al! important constituents
OF ashes, posses the power of converting
vegetable fiber to geine.
The value of gypsum upon a soil can
only be determined by experiment. On
some soils it acts as if by magic, espec-
tally upon the grasses and leguminous
plants, which include all the grains and
clover. We have always had good re-
suits from its application TO corn, on
sandy soils and ordinary prairie soils
both. 1t should never be applied, how
ever, in a mass, but spread broadcast or
busted about the hill dry; or over the
plants to be washed into the soil. 1t
should always be used dry. Mixed
with ashes, the proportions should be,
say three or four parts of ashes to one OF
plaster, in which case a small handful
would be sufficient for each hill Vest
ern Rural.