St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-06-20
Wood Ashes as a Fertilizer.

Good wood ashes are usually looked
upon simply as source of potash.
While it is undoubtedly true that this
potash is very available and is taken up
by the plant at once, the good results
from applying this fertilizer are partially
due to the small percentage of phos-
phoric acid, ranging from 1 to 2 per
cent, and quite a percentage of lime,
amounting in some cases to 35 per cent.
In soils of mineral origin the lime is very
effective in llberating the plant food, par
ticularly potash The combined effect,
therefore, of all these elements in wood
ashes is always beneficial. Ashes have
always been considered an excellent fer
tilizer. The supply, however, is rapidly
decreasing, and in many cases it is i'm
possible to obtain them. We depend
chiefly on Canada and even that source
is not always reliable.
Furthermore, the wood ashes now on
the market are exceedingly variable in
composition. Some contain a great
deal OF dirt, and not few lots have been
leached for making soap before being sold
for fertilizers. This teaching process re-
moves nearly everything that is soluble
and is particularly effective in taking out
the potash. However, the greater part
OF the lime remains, and even leached
ashes can be applied with profit. The
ashes should always be bought subject
to analyses or the purchaser should re-
quire a guarantee as to the percentage
OF potash and phosphoric acid, particu-
larly the former.
1t is generally understood that hard
wood ashes are much richer in potash
than softwood, such as that from maple,
poplar, cottonwood and the like. This
is true to a certain extent. However,
softwood ashes are much lighter than
hardwood, and consequently, weight for
weight, the difference is not so great as
is sometimes supposed. Prot. VOORHEES,
states that the average commercial ashes
sold for fertilizers contain about 6 per
cent of potash, 2 per cent of phosphoric
acid and 80 per cent of lime. High.grade
ashes have frequently contained from 10
to 40 per cent of potash. Leached ashes
contain about 1 "A per cent OF potash, IA
to per cent of phosphoric acid and 20
per cent of lime. Tanbark ashes are
poor in fertilizing content, and seldom
SohIoih hiOlS thdh < pei SSnL VI potash.
Limekiln ashes are also poor in potash,
but contain a very high percentage of
lime, amounting in many cases to so per
cent.
There is difference of opinion as to
the value of coal ashes. If obtained from
anthracite COAL they contain a trace of
potash, s to Is per cent of lime and mag
nesia, and some soda. The chief value
from an application of this class, how
ever, is supposed to be chiefly due to the
mechanical effects upon the soil. At anv
rate, coal ashes of all kinds should be pre-
served and used as a top-dressing to
grasses or about fruit trees and bushes.
AS ashes contain large percentage Of
lime, it is thought advisable to apply
them to the clover crop which proceeds
the field crop to be lertilized. They can
be put on at the rate of from one to two
tons per acre in the fall and winter. The
clover sod must be broken the following
spring and the cultivated crop planted
Thereafter to maintain the fertility of
the soil 500 pounds per acre should be
applied either the following winter or