The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-19
farm aud 6ardem.
Commercial Fertilizers Concluded.


viz: potash. While phosphoric acid does
little good on sandy and calcareous soils,
potash acts best Oh such soils. We do
not know that we mentioned this fact IN
regard to phosphoric acid. The explana-
ton given of it is that on sandy soils 1T
hastens on account of want of moisture,
the maturity of the plant too rapidly be-
fore it is fully grown and developed, and
on calcareous soils that it combines with
lime, and becomes insoluble again, at
least for the time. 1t is said by some to
be best to plough under potash some time
before planting, and some advise is to be
ploughed in deep, as it is quickly alb
sorbed in the soil, and may not be within
reach of the deeper roots when they strike
down. An experiment made by the
writer recently (in his garden) does not
seem to confirm this. KANT Containing
suIphate potassa 1857 per cent? was put
in two rows for beets, Just before sowing,
while two were not fertilized A little
dirt was raked on the fertilizer before
sowing the seed, for fear they might be
injured. The growth of beets is now
MAY l1th) nearly double those without
the fertilizer; what may be the relative
This experiment proves that some plants
require much potash, and is the more
striking, because ashes (mixture of coal
and wood ashes) had, the previous year,
been spread over this land, and it is a
clayish (chocolate) soil, which is general
ly not considered to require potash
Some crops on this land, no doubt, would
not be benefited by potash. 1t is assert
ed that beets raised by use of potash be-
come poorer in sugar, and potatoes with
potash) poorer in starch. We shall see
if there is any perceptible difference of
taste in the beets with and without potash.
The principal sources of potash are the
German potash salts, (kainit) muriate,
and sulphate potash, and wood ashes.-
The first contains generally from % to
% per cent of sulphate potash, which is
the best form of potash to use, especially
for potatoes and tobacco, as being less apt
to fire them. The muriate contains about
80 per cent muriate potash, equal to so
per cent of potash-the sulphate about
50 per cent sulphate potash equal to %
pounds potash and kainit varies in its
sulphate potash, but averaging about an
equivalent of II per cent potash. Some
times the kainit contains portion of the
muriate.
Most all of our worn soils, particularly
if light, require potash Green sand
mari, the virtues of which are due to
potash, universally acts we'll. On the
light soils of New Jersey it has been a
great renovator and particularly favors
the growth of clover. Every one is ia
mlllar with the action of ashes, whose vir-
tues are due mostly to potash, though on
some soils considerably to the phosphoric
acid they contain oak ashes containing
10 per cent pota b and per cent phos-
phorlc acid, and pine wood about per
cent of each. 1t is an old proverb that
"land never forgets ashes Among the
crops. tobacco and potatoes require most
potash. Corn and clover also require
good amount of potash, more than wheat.
In addition to potatoes, among vegeta-
bles, beets, cabbage, onions and aspara-
gus require a liberal amount of potash.
All fruit trees require potash in large
amount, the fruits and the wood contain
ing large percentage of potash, par
tlcularly pears, cherries, and plums
While turnips contain good percentage
OF potash, they are more benefited by the
phosphates; at least such is the fact in
England, where the phosphates almost
alone are used for turnips. But the
English lands, according to Lawes and
Gilberts testimony, do not need potash :;
while in France, according to experiments
made by order of the Minister of Apri-
culture, it is declared to be of inestima-
bic value. This shows how the wants of
soils and crops vary. In France the soil
IS lighter than in England, and the two
most important crops raised are grapes
and beets, which require liberal use of
potash
Mode of Application of Fertilizers.
This is matter of more Importance
than is generally imagined. Fertilizers
should be applied with care and skill,
AS a general rule they do better sown
broadcast. They must be sown eyealy,
and on still day. Some persons sow
them at night by the light Of the moon.
where the night is still and the day
windy. The fields should be we'll bar-
rowed, and then the fertilizer sown with
as much care as grass seeds. A light
harrow may be used (where the fertilizers
are not covered in furrows) to cover in
the fertilizer, and the sooner this is putin
motion the better, so that it may be uni
tormly distributed and covered. or mixed
with tho coil WI a., ,,-l