178 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



minous coal is used for fuel. A small amount of wood ash was present 

 from wood kindlings used in starting the fire. 



Eighteen per cent, soluble in acids ; the potash was one-fifth of one per 

 (•ent.. and phosphoric acid one-seventh of one per cent. A trace of lithia 

 in the ash. The insoluble residue — 82 per cent. — consists of silica and insol- 

 uble silicates. The small amount of valuable manurial materials present 

 come in part from the wood kindlings. Soft coal ashes have very little 

 value for manure. 



Value of 100 pounds, 2 cents. 



Hard coal ashes were obtained from the anthracite burned in a stove in the 

 Laboratory. Four and one-half per cent, soluble in acid ; potash found to the 

 amount of one-tenth of one per cent., and phosphoric acid one-twentieth of 

 one per cent. The soluble part contained a small amount of sulphate of 

 lime. 



The insoluble part, 94^ per cent., consisted of clay and other insoluble sili- 

 cates. Estimated by its chemical analysis, one hundred pounds of hard-coal 

 ashes are worth less than one cent. It contains less plant food than the same 

 amount of common clay. Its value for most purposes springs from its 

 physical properties. It is a good absorbent, and well adajited to use in earth 

 closets; makes good roads and walks, and would make a good filling for hol- 

 low wall-space to prevent the passage of heat. Two parts of sifted coal ashes 

 and one of common salt, moistened with water, will make a good cement to 

 close open cracks in stoves or furnaces. But as a source of plant food, hard- 

 coal ashes are without value. 



For purposes of direct comparison I submit the following table of results 

 of analysis : 



TABLE OF ANALYSES OF ASHES. 



Soluble in hydrochloric acid.._ 

 Insolnble in hydrochloric acid 



Potash (KjO) 



Phosphoric acid (P2O 6) 



Salts of lime and magnesia 



Value per ton (2,000 lbs.) 



Hard- 

 coal 



Ashes. 



4.50 



.10 



.05 



3.50 

 $0.16 



SOILS MOST BEN'EFITED BY WOOD ASHES. 



Discarding ashes of mineral coal as valueless for manure, I may say in gen- 

 eral terms that the ashes of wood and of land plants of every kind are of 

 value for manure on every kind of soil which has been reduced by cropping ; 

 but the greatest benefit is shown uj)on sandy and porous soils. On these " light 

 soils" crops of every kind, but especially root crops " and corn, will be 

 benefited by a dressing of wood ashes. Fruit trees and fruit-bearing plants 

 having a woody structure, will be benefited by wood ashes. 



Thirty to fifty bushels to the acre of fresh ashes will be a full dressing, 

 and three or four times that amount of leached ashes may be api^lied with 

 permanent benefit. R. C. KEDZIE, 



Agricultueal College, \ Prof, of Chemistry. 



June 1, 1886. ( 



