Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-05-15
the Use ofpotash salts.

Kafpit, or German potash salt, is now
being used extensively in all parts of the
country, and, as a rule, with very salts.
factory results. The majority of our
farmers, however, are not ss familiar
with it's adaptation to special crops as
they are with superphosphate. Some
valuable information regarding ksinit is
found in letter written by 4. Wenig of
Soh@nlsnke, Prussia, to the american
Farmer. MIR. Wenig says that IS soon ss
one kind Of plant foot is deficient in the
soil the crops fall short. To produce
1900 pounds Of clover hay the soil on
which it grows ought to hold (besiie
other materially 30 p0undE of available
potash and ten pounds OF phosphoric acid
in an available state. Suppose within
,he soil there is at hand, instead Of ten
pounds of phosphorio acid only four
pounds, then only 500 pounds Of clover
hay could be expected. Or, if instead OF
80 pounds of potash only 20 pounds are
at hand, no more than 1880 pounds OF
clover hay could be expected, and the
surplus Of the other substances would
appear as dead capital within the soil.
Many soils, although rich in phosphstes,
are lacking in potash, aud consequently
uU uUt klNb a lull GEpps tdky UI sW AupT
ground, after being freed from water. re
oeives the most benefit from potash. Next
to peaty soils the light sandy soil is most
benefited by applying potash salts, as both
soils.are, as a rule, very deficient in potash
Soils consisting mostly ofwesther bester
bssalt, or teldspar, are seldom il
need OF potash, unless potatoes, sugsl
bsets or tobacco raised uninterruptedlJ
have taken away the soluble potasl
within the soil. Even for more loamy
land the reports from experiment station
assert that potash salts are indispensable
in consequence OF their indirect influences
Experiments have shown that an applica
tion OF 100 pounds OF phosphates, viii
90 pounds OF potash, had better efec
than zoe pounds Of phosphates use
alone. This fact shows that the potss
salt not only acts ss direct food Tor plants
but its indirect inhuence-its solven
action on other substances, especially o
phosphstes-is OF the greatest importance
sometimes more than as a direct food
This indirect influence appears again b
applying potash salts either to potatoei
sugar beets or to barley and oats. Tn
first named roots ar5 great consumers
potash the grains want but little, sti
the grains are generally, as experimsn
show, benefited in greater degree by al
plying potash salts thsn the potaa
oonsumers-potstoes and beets.
All indirect gain by using potash sal
ia that soil well manured with potas
salts retains more moisture, which il vel
important for light, sandy soils Mo
all soils deficient in potash are likew
IN need Of phosphstes; therefore, whsth
as direct food or as a solvent agent, II
advisable to apply both st once-say II
pounds Of phosphate to 80 pOunda
ksinit (sulphste of potssh) Either us,
alone has no effect. Only the lupn
are satisfied with kainit alone, witho
any additional manure, and anoth
condition in applying 1t ID that the lsl
should contain lime. The rule to app
potash salt is to spread it long befo
sowing or planting, preferably in the ia
Plow it in and mix it with the soil in
mately, as there ia no need 10 fear
sinking into the subsoil, washing aw
or evaporsting.
NOTES.
Barbed wire can be used as a fen
against hogs by putting the lower wi
four inches from the ground and the ne
wire luOt Of IA lniues u'Rher. IL
fence does not need to, be high II hogs on
are to be inclossd.
Don't forget the dust bath. This
made by mailing together four boards
the form Of square. No bottom
needed. Place in sunny corner and
with fine dry loan or road dust, with
extra barrel full to use when neede
There is nothing equal to good du
bath to keep the hens tres from lice.
they are very lousy q bushel of wo
ashes may be added to the bath.
The advantage Of thoroughbreds o7
natives may be shown by the stateme
Of Michigan farmer whose grs
Shorthorn calf weighed 1876 pounds VIII
only one day old. AT the time he v
weighed he had not sucked his dam, /
had light feed four hours previous
Another breeder reports his Shortho
calf, aged niue months, as weighing I
pounds which is more than many caly
from native stock weigh of two yea
growth.
II cistern water has acquired fC
odor, says DR.. Ksdzie in the New Yo
Tribune, it may be deodorized by 30
oxidizing agent, such as chloride Of 800