Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-03
Wood Ashes As a Source Of Potash

Wood Ashes As a Source Of Potash
II the European war should cause ou
large annual imports Of potash to dwin
die, many farmers would look to woo(
ashes, among other substances, to re
plenish the potash supply. While tn
amount of wood ashes that q farme
could accumulate on his own farm woull
hardly ever be sufficient to supply BIZ
need for potash, nevertheless, IL they ar,
carefully stored and not permitted t
leach, they may be of considerable value
to bim. Wood ashes are now factor IL
Canada, being considered q regular com
mercisl commodity, and the large lum
Der mills and other plants using wood oil
sawdust for fuel in this country which al
present make no use of the ashes from
their furnaces or waste piles may 6nd il
profitable to store aud sell them If the
demand warrant Ii.
Wood ashes may be profitably applied
as top dressing to grass land and to
pastures, where they will encourage the
growth of clover and better kinds of
grasses, which will then crowd out in
ferior kinds and weeds. Wood ashes
may be also used for corn and roots.
Because of their lime content they are
not 80 good for potatoes, although
sometimes used for this crop.
In New England, where farmers have
had to look more carefully to the renew
ing of old soils than IN some of the new
or sections of the country, wood ashes
have long been appreciated. Ashes in
directly increase the available nitrogen
Of the organic matter in the soil, and
have been known to do excellent service
in Europe on drained moorland.
Besides the potash, ashes contain 9th
or ingredients which are of value to
plants, namely, about or 2 percent OF
phosphoric acid, little magnesis, and a
great deal of lime. The Importance Of
these last-named elements is made plain
by the esteem in which leached ashes
are held by some Of our farmers, al
though from lsached ashes all but very
small portion of the potash has been
washed out. The farmer who wishes tO
restore potash to the soil by the use Of
ashes should take great care that they
are kept dry and are not allowed to
leach at all. Many housewives save
their house ashes and leach out the pot
ash for use in making soap. They may
now have an additional reason for con-
serving them, namely. their increased
value as a garden fertilizer. But as has
just been said, ashes to be used for the
improvement of the soil should not be
permitted to leach.
Ashes from hardwoOds (deciduous
trees) are richer in both phosphorus and
potash than those from pines and other
softwoods (conifers). Ashes from oak,
elm, maple, and hickory have more pot
ash than those from pine. The ashes of
twigs (fsggots for example) are worth
more for agricultural purposes than the
ashes of heartwood taken from the
middle of an old tree. In general, the
smaller and younger the wood burned,
the better ashes. The ashes Of coal do
not contain enough potash to make
them valuable In this connection.
Ordinary house ashes contain on the
average about s or 9 per cent Of potash
and per cent of phosphoric acid. In
vestigators have considered that there Is
enough potash and phosphoric acid in
bushel of ashes to make it worth 20 or
25 cents. Besides that, some 10 or l5
cents additional might be allowed for
the "slkali power" of the ashes. This
power is that which enables ashes to rot
weeds and TO ferment peat. OF course,
prices vary with local conditions.
Ii wood ashes are purchased, the
farmer should assure himself that they
have neither been contaminated with
coal ashes nor adulterated with leached
ashes. With these facts determined,
the place of burning has no effect on the
value of the ashes az fertilizer. They
are equally satisfactory whether taken
from a stove, fireplace, or bonfire
News Letter.