Wood Ashes. 



Wood ashes are valuable as a source of jDotasli and previous to the opening 

 of the potash mines in Germany were very much sought after. Good unleached 

 ashes should contain at least 5 or 6 per cent, of potash and from 1.5 to 2 per 

 cent, of phosphoric acid (PaOo). The potash is is an excellent form to serve as 

 a plant food and is immediately available. Valuing the potash at 5 cents per 

 pound, which is about the cost of it in sulphate of potash, v/ood ashes are worth 

 25 to 30 cents per hundred, or $5 or $6 per ton for the potash alone. But they 

 also contain some phosphoric acid, and 25 to 50 per cent, of the whole of the 

 material is carbonate of lime. 



Leached ashes are ashes that have been exposed to the weather and usually 

 have lost all but about one-half of one per cent, of their potash. The phosphoric 

 acid and lime, however, remain unchanged. 



Muriate of Potash. 



Muriate of potash or potassium chloride is more generally used than any 

 of the other salts. It varies somewhat in composition according to the method 

 of manufacture, but the product most commonly met with in this country contains 

 about 50 per cent, of actual potash. The chief impurities are common salt, and 

 certain insoluble matters which are not injurious. All the potash in this material 

 is immediately available. 



Sulphate of Potash. 



This salt is usually from 90 to 95 per cent, pure and therefore contains an 

 equivalent of from 48 to 51 per cent, of actual potash. It is preferable to the 

 muriate for certain crops. Thus, the muriate is not recommended for potatoes, 

 sugar beets and tobacco. The sulphate, however, costs from $7.00 to $10.00 per 

 ton more than the muriate. Possibly if the muriate of potash were applied some 

 time before planting the ill effects attributed to this material miight be overcome. 

 The potash manures may be applied some time previous to the seeding or planting, 

 but should not be plowed do\vn. They react with other compounds in the soil 

 and are fixed or so firmly held by the soil constituents that there is no fear of 

 heavy loss by leaching. Early applications give the material a chance to become 

 diffused through the ground so that it can come in contact with the roots as they 

 spread themselves throughout the soil. 



LIME. 



The chief formis in which lime is used to-day are: quick lime, carbonate of 

 lime and marl. Hydrated lime is slaked lime screened and is too expensive to 

 use for liming soils. Air-slaked lime is a mixture of slaked lime and carbonate 

 of lime. The ammmt of the latter substance present is dependent upon the 

 length of time the lime has been exposed. 



