Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-05-15
The Use OF Potash Salts.

Kainit, or German potash salt, is
now being used extensively in all
parts of the country, and, as a rule,
with very satisfactory results. The
majority Of our farmers, however, are
not as familiar with It's adaptation 10
special crops as they are with super.
phosphate. Some valuable inlorma-
ton regarding kainit is found in a
letter written by Mr.. Il. Wenig, of
SchGnlanke, Prussia, TO the american
Farmer. Mr.. Wenig says that as soon
as one kind Of plant food is deficient
in the soil the crops fall short. TO
produce 200 pounds Of clover hay
the soil on which it grows ought TO
hold (besidc other matcrialJ thirty
pounds Of available potash and ten
pounds Of phosphoric acid in an
available state. Suppose within the
soil there is at hand, instead of ten
pounds Of phosphoric acid, only four
pounds, then only 500 pounds Of
clover hay could be expected. Or
if instead Of thirty pounds Of potash
only twenty pounds are at hand, no
more than $3.50 pounds Of clover hay
could be expected, and the surplus Of
the other substance would appear as
dead capital within the soil.
Many soils, although rich in phos-
pilates, are lacking in potash, and
consequently DO not give full crop.
Peaty or swampy ground, after be-
ing freed from water, receives the
most benefit from potash. Next to
peaty soils the light sandy soil is
most benefited by applying potash
salts, as both soils are, rs q rule, very
deficient in potash. Soils consisting
most OF weathcr.bcaten basalt. or
leldspar, are seldom in need OF pot
ash, unless potatoes, sugar bects or
tobacco raised unintcrruptedly have
taken away the soluble potash within
the soil. Even for more lOamy land
the reports from experiment stations
assert that potash salts are indispens.
able in consequence Of their indirect
influence. Experiments have shown
that Al application Of 100 pounds Of
phosphates, with 80 pounds Of pot
ash, had a better effect than 200
pounds Of phosphates used alone
Thi, fact shows that potash salt not
only acts as direct food for plants,
but its indirect irfuence-its solvent
action on other substances, especially
on phosphatc.-is Of the greatest i'm
portauce, sometimes more than as a
direct food. This indirect influence
appears again by applying potash
salts either 10 potatoes, sugar bcets
or TO barley and oats. The first.
named roots are great consumers Of
potash the grains want but little,
still the grains are generally, as ex.
peTiments show, benefited in greater
degree by apply ing potash salts than
The potash consum'rs-p potatoes and
bcct-.
An indirect gain by using potash
salts is that . soil well mauuTcI with
potash salts retains more moisture,
which is very imporian, for light,
sandy soils. Most al soils deficient
IN potash are likewise IN need Of pbos-
pilates therefore, whether as direct
food OF as solvent agent, it is advis
able 10 apply both at oncc--say 100
pounds OF phosphatcs TO 80 pounds
Of kainit lsulpha'e Of poiashJ Either
used alone has no elect. Only the
lupincs arc satisfied with kainit alone,
without any addi ional manure, and
another condition in applying it is
that the land should contain lime.
The rule to apply potash salt is to
spread it long before sowing or plant
ing, preferably in the fall. Plow it in
and mix il with the soil intimately,
as there is no need 10 fear its sinking
into the subsoil, washing away or
eyaporating.