CHEAPEST SOURCE OF POTASH. 101 



pasture lands are kept up, with comparatively little expense, by 

 giving them bones, in quantities such as we should never dream 

 of — a ton, for instance, to the acre; by. which they say their 

 cattle thrive better, their pastures are kept up better, and they 

 find that the cheapest mode of fertilizing them. We use them 

 differently. We find that by ploughing in bones, on new land, 

 we can improve the land, until we have time to make animal 

 manure. 



These subjects are all open to us, and Dr. Nichols has always 

 been kind enough to answer the questions put to him, and I 

 have no doubt he will be ready to do so now. 



Mr. Hyde. I will ask Dr. Nichols how he would apply pot- 

 ash to potatoes ? 



Dr. Nichols. At present, the cheapest source of potash is 

 the German muriate of potash. I have just received a few 



tons of it. You can obtain it in Baltimore, of Mr. , 



who is the agent of the German importers. It costs me, set 

 down upon my farm, about $54 a ton, and it analyzes ninety 

 per cent, muriate of potash. Reducing the potash down to 

 the oxide of potassium, that would make it cost about 3-| cents 

 a pound. The ordinary commercial potash cannot be bought 

 for less than seven or eight cents a pound. The best article is 

 worth nine cents. If any one wishes to have as much as a ton, 

 I would recommend him to send to Baltimore and obtain it there. 

 I think it could be landed anywhere in Massachusetts at less than 

 $>(50 a ton, and in combination with compost it is very excel- 

 lent indeed. But if you wish to use the ordinary potash of 

 commerce, the best way is to get a large iron kettle and dis- 

 solve it, and then add to the solution a quantity of dry muck, 

 of course making an estimate of the number of pounds that 

 you use and the bulk, and then use that in your compost heap. 



Mr. Hyde. Would you mix the first you spoke of with 

 muck also ? 



Dr. Nichols. Yes, sir, I would add that. 



Mr. Hyde. How many cords of muck to a ton of the pot- 

 ash? 



Dr. Nichols. I do not attenuate it very much. You can 

 attenuate it down to any extent you choose, but you would 

 make the bulk so large that it would be inconvenient to use it. 

 You want to make the bulk considerable. I find it is an ad van 



