The Question Box. 131 



there is acid in it. It also sets locked-up plant food free. As a 

 rule, however, potash and phosphoric acid may be bought more 

 cheaply from other sources than in ashes. There is about one 

 per cent, of phosphoric acid in ashes. If you decide to buy them, 

 do not pay more than $6.50 per ton, and insist upon a guaranteed 

 analysis. Sow broadcast in the spring. 



Mr. Cook. — It will depend on the quality of the ashes. Good 

 hard-wood ashes, if well preserved and kept dry, may be worth, 

 possibly, $7 per ton. They will analyze about four per cent, pot- 

 ash and one to one and a half per cent, of phosphoric acid. Then 

 there will be nearly $2 worth of lime in a ton of them. 



Question.- — What do you think, Mr. Cook, of mixing poultry 

 manure with ashes? 



Answer. — You will lose all the nitrogen in the manure. The 

 lime in the ashes will set free the nitrogen in the manure, which 

 will escape in the form of ammonia. Do not mix lime or wood 

 ashes with any manure. Land plaster will do, however. 



Question. — How much wood ashes would you recommend for an 

 acre ? 



Prof. Cavanaugh. — I don't know; I suppose that 25 or 30 bush- 

 els would not be too much. 



Question. — About how many bushels of ashes would you use 

 on an acre of apple orchard? 



Mr. Gould. — I heard a man say recently that he wanted 100 

 bushels of good ashes on an acre of peach orchard. He did not 

 say anything about apples. 



Question. — Would you sow land plaster on newly-seeded land 

 so as to save the plants? 



Mr. Rice. — Land plaster contains no fertility. Its value is 

 in its ability to unlock plant food already in the soil. On virgin 

 soil it is valuable for this purpose. But I should try South Caro- 

 lina rock in place of plaster. At the present price of rock, for 

 that containing 14 per cent, of phosphoric acid not far from 

 $14 per ton, you will get the plaster free. That portion left after 

 deducting the acid is pure sulphate of lime, which is land plaster. 

 If you buy it, insist on a guaranteed analysis, and don't pay $14 

 for $11 grade. 



Question.— Why does not land plaster stimulate the growth 

 of clover, as it once did? 



Mr. Smith. — Land plaster is an indirect fertilizer, and, if the 

 land has enough humus, some benefit will be derived. The sul- 

 phate of lime in it, on such soils, will set free potash. Land 



