The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-04-17
FARM, GARDEN, AND HOUSEHOLD.
when and Where to Apply Wood Ashes.

when and Where to Apply Wood Ashes.
The agricultural editor Of the New
York World SAYS: Wood ashes. among
the best of saline manurcS and also among
The most economical, are coming to he
more and more appreciated every year.
Farmers now, as Il rule. husband every
pound made on the farm and buy them
Whenever they can be procured ut Il rca-
exchanging ashes from good hard wood
for Il few pounds of soap.
Leachcd ashes, while less valuable.
contain all the elements of the unlcacicd,
having been deprived only of part of
their potash and soda. Ashes benefit all
soils not already rich in the principles
they contain. and may he drilled in with
roots and grain, Sown broadcast on
meadows or pastures, or mixed with the
muck heap.
The quantity Of ashes to be applied to
the acre depends, as docs that OF all fer
tilizers. on the character of the soil and
crop cultivated. Crops which exhaust
the salts, us potatoes, turnipS and all roots,
clover, lucern, peas, beans and the
grasses, are benefited by ashes. The
crops named thrive we'll under an appli-
cation of ashes with bone-dust, and their
effects are also strengthened when mixed
with gypsum. Light soils call for light
dressings, say from ten to fourteen
bushels of unleachcd and twice that
quantity of lcached ashes per acre. Rich
lands or clays bear heavier dressings.
Repeated dressings of ashes like repeated
dressings of lime or gypsum, without Il
corresponding addition of vegetable or
BARNARD manurcs are not admissible,
for they will eventually exhaust lands
when applied alone. Where the entire
surface of the soil is covered with vPgc-
table growth either ofthc three materials
mentioned acts with great effect. For
this reason ashes may be applied un-
mixed with other fertilizers to meadow
lands for longer time than to any other
crop.
In reply to questions asked at the Ell
mira (N. Y Farmers club in regard to
the value of lcached ashes and the best
manner of applying them to general crops,
as corn, wheat and oats, the follow ing
information was gained: LHachcd ashes
vary so much in their character that no
precise estimate Of their value can be
made. Heavy clay is liable to be in
iuriously compactcd by liberal dressings
of ashes, leachcd or unleachcd, unless
the land is sod, in which case ashes
spread on the surface tend to increase the
crop Of grass. The safest and best use OF
lcached ashes on most kinds of soil
is spreading them on old meadow
or old pasture. Working them
into land on which potatoes are to be
planted in the same season is also Il good
way to use them. Good ashes make 4
valuable dressing for wheat land and for
corn, but the leached ashes are too I'm,
certain in their character to recommend
for such use.
Coal ashes are inferior in quality to
those from wood and vegetables, but arc
nevertheless of value and are to be APP
piled to the soil in Il similar manner. us
they tend with their abundance Of Gin
dcrS to the mechanical division OF soils.
Coal ashes are beneficial to heavy rather
than light soils.
Farmers, in consideration Of the above
facts, cannot be too strongly encouraged
to follow the practice of collecting and
reducing to ashes all the rubbish of the
farm not otherwise available, such rs
brush, old wood, sods, rags-in fact
everything which cumbers the place us
useless matter. Burnt earth is not only
Il manure in itself, but is most useful to
mix with artificial fertilizers which cam
not be easily distributed alone or too
strong to sow among seed unmiXcd with
other material.
Remarkable Array OF New Fruits.
The year 1878. it appears. has been
rendered memorable to American pomo-
lorists bv reason of the large number or
new native fruits which were originated
or introduced during that time. The list
of peaches especially has been greatly in
creased. In paper read before the
Western New York Horticultural Society
bv William c. Barry descriptions of
thirty peach seedlings never before de-
scribed were enumerated Us having come
to the notice of this well-known nursery.
man, while many more were trultcd
which are not yet made known to the
public. According to Mr.. Barry the
State of New York offers several candi-
.lates for popular favor. From the great
metropolis even come two new varieties
which apparently possess many valua-
bic Qualities. In Western New York
.hcre are several seedlings which will
undoubtedly prove desirable. One Of
shem is believed to be the largest and
earliest of all the very early peaches.
Several excellent carly and late varieties
have originated in Ohio. Passing over
! vast extent of country are found Il
number of new kinds in Missouri, Kan
s;,s and Nebraska. From Kansas comes
.hp information that the whole list oil
,arlv peaches known to the public, so
f;rr rs fruited in Kansas in 1873, is sur
passed both in carlineSS and size by at
least fifty new seedlings of Kansas origin.
many of which bore their first fruit that
year. At the South, too, many promlS-
ing new sorts are mentioned. thus, aS
if by magic. during the same year and in
various sections of country new peaches
have sprung up in such numbers as to
astoniSh and almost pcrpleX the fruit
culturist.
Touching upon the few new apples
brought to notice the past year, Mr..
Barry had word to say about the Rus
sian apples which have caused more or
less discussion. Of the varieties under
trial for some time several have given
evidence. of value, and while they can
hardly be compared in quality to our
best apples, still they are fair and will
doubtless prove desirable in those locali-
ties where only hardy varieties succeed.
What portion of the laH.r nr.nber of
new strawberries introduced NJ worthy
of cultivation Mr. Barry thought it diff
cult as yet to say. Another season eX-
perience will be required before definite
and reliable information can he given
concerning many Of them. Ola number
which have been well tested the Sharp
less is given a prominent place, as are the
Cumberland, Triumph and Crescent
Seeding. Among new raspberrics the
Gregg was pronounced a decided I'M