The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-01-29
Wood Ashes as Fertilizer.

AS general thing farmers have not
yet learned the value Of wood ashes as
fertilizer aud still persist in letting the
lash man" have them for mere tritle,
usually cake of soap in return for
bushe of ashes, scriptural measure.
Every time the farmer or fruit grower
allows this to take place he is letting
slip from him one of the best chances
he has to fertilize his soil.
Wood ashes are not only valuable as
fertilizer because of the mineral elements
which they contain, but also because
when applied to the soil they have good
physical effect on it. A form of pot
ash for fertilizing, ashes are classed near
the top. The potash is very soluble and
thus is quickly available for plant food.
Three elements valuable as fertilizer
are found in ashes-potash phosphoric
acid and lime. As usual thing how
ever, it is only the two former which are
taken into consideration in figuring the
commercial value of ashes. From this
standpoint the value depends upon the
amount of potash and phosphoric acid
they contain This is very variable, de-
pending upon a number of conditions.
Hardwood ashes contain a higher per
centage of these elements than those
made from soft woods. The rapidity or
intensity with which the wood is burned
also affects the composition of the ashes
and teaching lessons the percentage of
both the potash and the phosphoric acid.
The value then of any ashes depends
upon those things and only a chemical
analysis could reveal their actual value.
We must content ourselves then in this
instance with figures obtained from
chemical analysis of over hundred diff
ferent samples made from different kinds
of wood and under different conditions.
The results of these analyses show that
unleached ashes contain from to 10 per
cent of potash, per cent being about an
average, 2 per cent of phosphoric acid
and 81 per cent of lime. Leached ashes
/ gave 30 per cent moisture, IL per cent
| potash, Id per cent phosphoric acid and
20 per cent of lime. 1t is readily dis
cernible then that leached ashes are far
/ less valuable than unleached.
The average given for beach and maple
is per cent potash and per cent phos-
phoric acid. Allowing cents per pound
as the commercial value of phosphoric
acid and cents per pound for potash
we have the following as the commercial
value of 100 pounds of ashes containing
these percentages. Value of Z pounds
of potash at ) cents per pound, 80 cents
of pounds phosphoric acid at cents
per pound, 16 cents; total, 81 cents
One sees at glance that the commercial
value of these two elements alone to say
nothing of the lime. and improved ply
steal condition greatly exceeds the eight.
for-a-quarter cake of soap that the lash
man. gives for bushel of this fertil
izer.
What of the value of the leached ashesl
Allowing the same commercial prices ano
taking the percentages given above fol
leached ashes, we have as their CONNER
cial value 175 cents per 100 pounds
With such values as these the frui
grower or general farmer need not stud,
long to determine whether it is better {,
contribute lis wood ashes to the build
ing up of his soil fertility or to donat,
them to the lash man" for mere song
| J. G.. MOORE in Michigan Farmer.