The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-28

tash and phosphoric acid, particularly l the former.
 It is generally understood that hard
 wood ashes are much richer in potash l than soft wood, such as that from
 maple, popular, cottonwood and the | like. This is true to a certain extent.
 However softwood ashes are much | lighter than hardwood, and conse-
 quently, weight for weight, the differ
 ence is not so great as is sometimes
 supposed. Prof. Voorhees, states that
 the average commercial ashes sold for
 fertilizers contain about 6 per cent of potash, ? per cent. of phosphoric acid
 and 32 per cent of lime. High-grade
 ashes have frequently contained from
 10 to 40 per cent. of potash Leached
 ashes contain about 11-4 per cent. of
 potash, liz to 2 per cent. of phosphoric
 acid and 20 per cent of lime. Tanbark
 ashes are poor in fertilizing content,
 and seldom contain more than per | cent of potash. Limekiln ashes are
 also poor in potash, but contain very
 high percentage of lime, amounting in
 many eases to 50 per cent.
 | There is a difference of opinion as to the value of coal ashes. If obtained
 from anthracite, coal they contain
 trace of potash, to 15 per cent. of lime
 and manesia. and some soda. The
 chief value from an application of this class, however, is supposed to be | chiefly due to the mechanical effects
 upon the soil. At any rate, coal ashes of all kinds should be preserved and | used as top dressing to grasses or about fruit trees and bushes.
 As ashes contain a large percentage
 of lime, it is thought advisable to apply
 them to the clover crop which precedes
 the field crop to be fertilized. 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 800 pounds per acre should be applied either the following winter or early spring. Where extensive culture is
 practiced, such as in the growing of
 potatoes, tobacco and hops, the appli- cation may be measured to 31-3 tons.
 Where large amounts like this are ap- piled the application must be made the fall and winter previous, or at least | n pdIl Ol IL SIuulu pc put on III aQ- vance.
 In any event, whether applied to field crops or to orchards, the applica- tion should be made some time ahead of planting. The ashes should be thor oughly and uniformly mixed with the surface soil. Where only small amount is to be used say 300 to 400 pounds per acre, it is best to scatter it about the hill, working 1t in we'll In no case put on a heavy application near the plant, as the caustic effect is always injurious. As general rule, for field crops when the application is made in the spring the ground is blow ed and the ashes scattered over the | surface which is then narrowed and prepared thoroughly for seeding. Where the soil is deficient in phosphor- ic acid it will pay to add to the appli- | cation of ashes 300 to 300 pounds of bone.
 For lawns, where a heavy, vigorous growth is always desirable, the grass plants must be. well fed The first | spring apply a heavy coating, three to | four tons, of wood ashes to begin with, and then every spring thereafter put | on 300 pounds of ashes and little bone and the grass will have dark green color, resist the effect of drouth and | will crowd out the weeds.--From the New England Homestead
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