The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-09-15
WOOD AS MAN,,pn

fro1. heazle, OF the Michigan A.
ricultural College, in a late 6RniIoan;Ss-
gives the following as the comnaI'
tive value of wood ashes. of thP"ra-
eral varieties, as enumerated beIo oeV-
100 fbs.- hard wood ashes... o,o
100 Tbs. soft wood ashes.
100 Tbs. corn cob ashes. "a
100 lbs. tannery ashes......
100 lbs. soft coal ashes. -!
100 Tbs. hard coal ashes........ 40 ~
In makinga an estimate oftbe VOL,
of ashes, together with the concT'
sions, Prof. Kedsie says: ''u'
II call potash worth 5 Cents
pound insoluable phosphoric acid q
cents a pound and the mixed Cow
Donates Of lime and magnesia, ] of.
cent a pound; because these mato
rails would cost these sums if nnr
chased separately at wholesale rates.
in the open market. Somemaya ASK
why place a value on ashes any,
more than on any other waste prod.
uct? The answer is, that when
these materials are used with sk;u
on farm or orchard, they pay the
cost and leave a profit besides in tbo
increased production and improved
quality Of the crop.
When we consider how large an
amount of vegetable is represented
by a small amount of ash, the va]up
Of wood ashes for MANURE becomes
evident. Thus only ten pounds Of
ash remain from the combustion Of
a cord of hard wood, and only five
pounds from a cord Of soft wood,
One hundred pounds Of ash repre-
sent the mineral matter Of eighty.
five bushels of wheat, eighty-fve
bushels of corn, or a ton of timothy
hay. Eleven tons Of goosberries.
grapes, blackberries, peaches or an.
pies would contain only 100 pounds
of ash. Seven tons of cherries.
plums or raspberries would contain
only 100 pounds of mineral matter.
This gives some idea of the large
amount of farm or orchard produce
which will be represented by
small weight Of mineral matter
But small as the amount of ash, It
is still indispensable for the produc.
ton of these crops, and must be
present in the soil in available form
before profitable cultivation is pos
sible.
Let it not be supposed that the
ash in all these crops is identical in
composition. The ash of each class
of plants has a composition peculiar
to itself, and different in some respects
from that of other classes; yet there
is a certain similarity in the ash Of
all cultivated plants. When the
ashes of vegetable substances are
served up for any plant by mixing
them up with the soil, such plant
does not of necessity order every
dish on the bill Of fare, but selects
such materials and in such quaint
ties rs are adapted to it's wants, and
leaves the balance for some future
meal or some other guest. If any
soil is naturally deficient in any OF
the ash constituents, or has been
Impoverished by excessive cropping,
the restoration of these materials in
the form of wood ashes appears to
be the natural and safe process,
because they contain all the MIN
erals Of vegetable growth" ,
In relation to coal ashes, estimated
by it's chemical analysis, it is held
that 100 pounds Of hard coal ashes
are worth less than l cent. 1t con-
tains less plant food than the same
amount Of common clay. Its value
for most purposes springs from ITS
physical properties. 1t is a good
absorbent, and we'll adapted to use
in earth closets; makes good roads
and walks, and would make a good
filling for hollow wall space to pre-
vent the passage ofheat. Two parts
of sifted coal ashes and one OF com
mon salt, moistened with water,
will make a good cement to close
open cracks in stoves or furnaces;
but as a source Of paint food, haru
coal ashes are without value.