2GS Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



How do hardwood ashes compare with fertilizers for oats and buck- 

 wheat, when unleached? 



Dr, Van Slyke. — We cannot compare them. Ashes contain but 

 one element — potash. Buckwheat requires a fertilizer containing 

 other elements. Ashes at $6 per ton, containing four per cent, of 

 potash, would not be too dear. At $10 per ton, unless one wanted 

 lime, the cost would be too high. It were better to buy muriate 

 or sulphate of potash for the crops named. 



What harm in putting wood ashes in the drops behind the cows in the 

 stables? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — The potash in the ashes liberates the nitro- 

 gen in the manure and allows it to escape in the form of ammo- 

 nia, which is just the thing we want to save. Lime has the same 

 •effect when mixed with manure. If ashes are to be used with 

 manure, the mixture should be applied to the soil and plowed 

 under at once. It were better to use South-Carolina rock in the 

 gutters, to absorb the liquids, as there will also be added a good 

 per cent, of phosphoric acid, an element that barn manure usually 

 lacks- 



A Farmer. — Grood wood ashes have proved the best fertili- 

 zer I ever bought. They have been worth at least |1 per bushel to 

 me, but they only cost me ten cents. 



Which is the cheaper to buy, manure at three or four shillings a load, 

 or commercial fertilizers? 



Mr. Converse. — There is a difference in the value of manure, 

 and there is in that of fertilizers, but, at such prices for manure, 

 compared with those for average commercial fertilizers, I would 

 buy the manure. 



What is the best fertilizer for clay soils? 



Mr. Cook. — As a rule, clay soil has potash enough. What is 

 most needed is the liberation of the plant food now in it, rather 

 than to add any more. It will be a waste of money to add plant 

 food, unless the soil has humus. There are thousands of acres of 

 sandy soils in this country that are full of plant food, but which is 

 not available, for the reason that there is no humus in them. To 

 tell what elements of plant food are needed on such clay soils one 



