The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-12-28
SOIL FOOD IN
WOOD ASHES

Before the common use of the COM
mercially mined potash salts wood ashes
constituted one of the cheapest sources
Of potash, and though its composition
was not understood or appreciated, 1t
was extensively used for every kind of
crop under the sun. That in view OF it's
many virtues 1t IS not now so universally
used is almost ineXplicable. The aver
age agricuiturfst would rather spend
$50 for none to good fertilizer than work
three or four days in building huge bon
fires when OCCASION permits. If he can
raise a heifer, mend harness or split
fence rails for less money than the pur-
chase of these things he will not hest
tate a moment to tackle the job. Why,
then should he not himself prepare a
superior potash fertilizer at half the cost
OF the commercial potash and have with
1t for the same cost a percentage OF
nearly available phosphorus and a con-
siderable quantity OF the best form of
lime?
The percentage of potash in certain
wood ashes is as high as 16 and as low
as 2 in others; it averages rom to 8
per cent in the common hardwood ashes,
never less than in the home burned
product. The lime averages 80 per cent;
the phosphorus, mostly insoluble but
semi nascent and soon available after
the continued action of the moisture in
the soil, averages 2 and 2 IL per cent.
The lime is sufficient to prevent any soil
from becoming sour The caustic alkah
contained in wood ashes promotes the
decomposition of the heterogeneous mat
ter thus setting free the ammonia, but
only with the aid of moisture which Is
found in the soil Moreover, the texture
of the material is such as to lend soft
ness to the soil and prevent caking. 1t
Is therefore especially desirable in heavy
clay soils and shallow soils. AS the
phosphate is insoluble, the potash con-
siderable and the lime in excess, wood
ashes constitute a fertilizer of more or
less permanent quality.
Effective applications of wood ashes
agree entirely with the foregoing theo-
retical and analytical determinations
Wood ashes may be readily mixed with
heterogeneous fertilizer and without injury
to the latter, If kept dry. If it meets
moisture in the soil some time before
the plans are up from seed or the roots
are developed, it is likely to the
nitrate before the latter is seeded. 1t is
therefore best to mix it with available
phosphate in such proportions as to
total the required amount; the nitratos
are then added to the soil later in the
usual manner Applied year after year,
wood ashes will not only keep the soil
up TO a high standard, but will improve
it in every way by intensifying and
deepening the humus.
Fletcher says that if wood ashes can be
purchased for about the same price per
pound of plant food as other potash fer
tilizer, they should be preferred. This
Is good advice, not only because of the
lime and phosphorus but for the reason
that th- potash in wood ashes occurring
as a carbonate and a;ded ny higher
percentage of caustic alkaii renders a
greater service in the liberation OF nj
trogenous plant food than do the sui
pilates and muriates of potash. The
superiority of potash from wood ashes
Is also slown in the absence of chlorine.
The best crop OF oats that the writer
ever saw, phenomenal yield on not
unusually excellent ground, followed
very lioeral treatment OF wood ashes.
ABOUT 253 ousneis we're used on live
nd-a-hali-dcre ned, broadcasted and
marrow ed in, but not dis.rl0uied equal
ly. Upon one end OF the nignest portion
OF the neld the so,l was poorest, owing
to yeals OF erosIo., and prooaDl. aDout
90 bushes TO the acre were put on,
whereupon the neatIess y.eld resulted
Deer TINS poorest area. Two fine crops
OF field corn-one an eXperiment-re-
suited rom the use OF wood asnes mixed
with 4 low grade acid PHOSPHATE per
cent aya,laJle phosphorus and about
per cent nitrate derived from apple po-
mace.
Within the writer garien experience
both with seed and oulJs OF vegetables
and flowers, Wood asnes, when used With
care, have invariably Resulted most fav-
oraDly. There Is tendency TO overin-
duIgenoe in such cases, Mn.un the caus
TIC nature OF the mdteria. Will not per-
NIT. care must aiso De Deserved to in
corporate the fertilizer Thoroughly with
the sol; otherwise there viii DE per-