Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-07-23

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Now in addition 10 the readily visi-
Bile effect in increasing the starch auC
sugar as we have shown. the labora-
1 tory investigations of Noble. Ger
man experimenter, indicate tina
potash is necessary for the formation
of starch the potash acting in CO.
operation with the chlorophyl,' tC
produce the starch. As IRON is nee
essary to the formation Of chloro-
phyl. so potash is necessary to Its
action without potash, this other
wise energetic worker is machIn.
without a driving-belt. "lf food
materials. otherwise complete, but
containing no potash are supplied to
plants, they behave as if they were
absorbing only pure water, instead Of
the solution of food material.
THE POTASH SUPPLY,
Potash being so indispensable to
plants, the question of the supply
becomes one Of special Interest,"
The soil, as a rule, is quite deficient
in potash. especially are New England
soils which are Of light and sandy
character; also the soil of drained
marshes consisting largely of muck
and peat. Loamy and ciayey soils
are more apt to contain it. especially
those derived from rocks having more
of it in their composition, as some
mica>bearing rocks and feldspars:
but so scarce is it, that continued
cultivation with, and selling off of
those crops into the composition of
which it enters largely. as the roots,
tobacco, and hay, will soon exaust the
supply, the feldspar and mica. con-
tanning potash, being very slow to
decompose.
Barn-yard manure, as we showed
in number II. of this series, is a
nearly complete manure in itself,
containing all of the required ele-
ments of fertility. including potash,
if it has been protected from waste.
Therefore, if we have sufficient well
kept barn-yard manure for all Of our
crops, the potash question is prac;i~
cally settled but such is not the
case, as every farmer knows that his
manure supply is usually short of the
demand. The potash, too, of barn
yard manure is mostly in a form not
readily available for plants, and only
becomes so by thorough decomposi-
ton Of the manure. either in the
compost heap or the soil. In light
soil through which air freely per-
meates, even green stable manure
will in a few weeks or months become
decomposed, and the potash set free
and diffused through the SOIL but
such manure applied to a heavy loan
or clayey soil. only becomes a sup
plier of plant food after many
months. Hence for the latter class
of soils, only we'll decOmpOsed stable
manure is ready means Of furnish
ing potash, or indeed any other kind
of plant food.
Wood ashes have long been used
with very beneficial results on all
most all kinds Of land, and the bene-
fit thus derived has been largely due
to the potash, which in ashes is most
ly in the form of the readily aVaila-
bic carbonite, easily dissolved out by
water. (Of the subject of wood
ashes in general, leached and un-
leached we shall treat independently
in an early number Ashes have.
until within a few years, been almost
the only outside source of potash for
farm use but the soap man has quite
outbid the farmer, which with the
of coal for wood. has
the supply scant and uncer-
ain.
Peruvian guano, fish guauo, SUI
'erphosphate, and animal dust
neither of them contain potash, un-
ess it be added 10 their manufacture.
IS is it in some cases. The soil
unning short, and home resources
ailing, we have to look abroad for
supply of this necessary portion of
'ur stock in trade. Fortunately, the
GERMAN POTASH SALTS
Appear on the stage at this juncture.
nd the prob EN- is solved the de-
nand is met, and we'll met. These ,
'otash compounds are a product from
he salt mines, forming a layer above
he salt. Their first use in Germany
7as attended with unsatisfactory re-
ults, owing, however. to their une-
en- composition. Now, these pot
sh salts are treated chemically, and !
endered of a uniform composition,
nd injurious com pounds removed
is very satisfactory to know that
lany fertilizer manufacturers in this :
Ountry, are now using immense
nantities of potash to supply this
losing ingredient of guanoS, super
and animal mauures. \
But the farmer should personally
Ike advantage of this valuable
'urce of fertility. This he may do =
various ways, Perhaps the most /
,onomical, is the use of the sui phate
stables: sprinkling it over the S
anure takes care of what ammonia -
ay form in decomposition, and sup, I
les potash to the manure heap. - 7,
may also be used economically it, V
with superphosphate, fish
d Peruvian guanos, aud in COM =
'sts, a: the rate of 100 to 200 lbs. :
the higher grades, and 200 to 400 n n
S. of the lower grades per acre -