Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-28
WOOD ASHES ON FARMS.


Wood ashes have been known for
many years as excellent for all kinds
of crops. Long before fertilizers
were placed on the market wood ashes
were highly esteemed by farmers. and
IL they can be had at fair prices, on
guarantee. they sell readily But ashes
vary greatly. those from hardwoods
being more valuable than the ashes
from soft wood. and yet ii is difficult
10 decide upon the value of ashes even
when the kind of wood is known. The
ingredient sought in ashes is potash.
Hickory ashes contain as high as 917
per cent; red oak. BIS per cent;
rock elm. $50: walnut. 4.G5: cherry.
5.2S; ounce. $50; pear. go: butter
nut. 3.9S; plum. 4.S0. and peach. Cos.
The cuttings of Srapeyines produce
ashes that are exceedingly rich in pot
ash. containing 1920 per cent. while
the pear tree. as may be noticed. pro-
duces more potash in its ashes than
does hickory. These facts make the
| purchase of wood ashes n matter of
uncertainty. so far as the actual value
to the farmer is concerned. for unless
he is informed of the kind of wood
from which they are made he will have
no knowledge of the amount of pot.
ash they contain. Should he purchase
butternut tree ashes he will not get
one-half as much potash as from hick-
DRY ashes. while ashes from old trees
young shoots. limbs. trunks and
branches differ. even from the same
tree. The bags containing a lot of
ashes will also vary in percentage OF
potash. while he will also find it very
difficult to distinguish ieached from
unleached ashes. Then. again. the
weight of ashes depeIcs largely upon
the humidity of the atmosphere If
purchased when the weather is damp
there will be more moisture in the
ashes than during dry weather. as
they quickly absorb moisture Analy-
sis of ashes shows that different lots
vary greatly.
Potash alone does not give value to
ashes. as they contain phosphoric acid
and lime. The recognized average for
L.
ash, 11a per cent. of phosphoric acid
and S212 per cent. of lime A ton or
ashes. therefore. contains 100 pounds
OF potash (worth about So, 80
pounds of phosphoric acid (worth
about $3.50, and Coo pounds of lime.
The value of the ashes depends upon
the potash and phosphoric acid. the
a hnt "a Al.
no value in fertilizers that are pur-
chased as such. yet it really has
value, which is tie same as the mar
ket value for stone lime. The proper
tons of phosphorlc acid and lime also
vary according to the kind of ashes.
but owing to their bulk for shipment.
and the fact that t:ey are sometimes
leached before put upon the market,
the piice of ashes is frequently much
greater than their actual value to the
farmer. Every farmer. however.
should carefully save all the ashes
made from wood on the farm. Coal
ashes have little or no value as fer
tilizers. Corn cCbs. the cuttings from
vines and trees. and even dead weeds.
make ashes which are rich in potash.
but the ashes should be kent under
shelter and rot allowed to become
wet, as they are more easily applied
on the land when in a perfectly dry
condition. If mixed with BARNARD
manure they cause loss of ammonia
from the heap. but ashes and manure
may be applied on land at the same
time and worked int tae soil. Potash
IN ashes is in a pure. uncombined
state. very caustic. and At once exerts
chemical and mechanical effect on
the soil. while that in fertilizers is
combined as q salt" with acids. of
which about one-half only is pure pot
ash.
AS there are about GOO pounds Of
lime in ton of wood ashes. il is ap-
parent that some of the benefits i'm
parted TO land by ashes is through
the lime, which is in the finest pos
sible condition. and is also produced
from vegetable matter: that is. unlike
stone lime. il has been used in the
growth of plants and returned for
use again in the wood ashes. But
the objection to buying lime in wood
ashes is that in such form it is costly.
for if ton of wood ashes costs SO,
and the value OF the potash and phos-
pLoric acid is $3.50. as stated, the ESQ
pounds of lime would cost the farmer
$3.50. and. as he can bay stone lime
much cheaper. he vii! not be bene-
fitted correspoEdingly b. purchasing
ashes in order to procure the lime
Lime sells at from 80 cents to 81 per
barrel the cost Of the pure lime be-
ing 3l12 cents per 100 pounds when
lime is IS cents per barrel, while the
cost of transportation may be but a
small sum il the lime can be procur-
ed near the farm. Ashes contain all
the mineral elements of the woods
from which they are derived, which in
cludes also soda. magnesia, silica. etc,
but the heterogeneous matter is eliminat-
ed during the burning of the wood.
Farmers who desire 70 use ashes will
probably find them profitable if the
price does not exceed 81 per ton for
unleached. but some lots may be worth
more. Fruit growers have a prefer
ence for ashes. as they serve to leu