302 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



GENERAL SUGGESTIONS. 



On account of these unusual conditions it is imperative that all waste 

 materials on the farm, especially those containing potash, be preserved. 

 Of the organic substances, stable manure is the most important. The 

 doors in stalls and stables should be made tight and enough bedding 

 used to hold the liquid manure since nearly all the potash and the most 

 valuable part of the nitrogen of manure is in the urine. All waste ma- 

 terials of organic nature such as leaves, stalks and trash should be used 

 for bedding or composted with manure. Average stable manure con- 

 tains, in each ton, about 10 lbs. of nitrogen, 5 lbs. of phosphoric acid 

 and 10 lbs. of potash. 



All the ashes from wood fires and from the burning of brush and other 

 waste material should be saved and stored under cover until used. Un- 

 leached hardwood ashes contain from 5 to 10 per cent of water-soluble 

 potash and about 60 per cent of lime. Leached ashes usually contain 

 less than one per cent of potash. Wood ashes should be bought on a 

 guarantee of water-soluble potash with provision for a rebate if the 

 guarantee is not fully met. Coal ashes contain neither potash nor lime 

 except in very small amounts. 



Tobacco stems and clippings contain from 5 to 8 per cent of potash 

 and from 2 to 3 per cent of nitrogen. These may be composted with ma- 

 nure or they may be plowed under separately. In either case, it would 

 be advisable to supplement with acid phosphate, especially when used 

 for corn, sugar beets or potatoes. 



Muck lands will be most seriously affected by the lack of potash as 

 they contain less of this plant-food than the mineral types of soil. On 

 such soils it is suggested that manure, especially horse manure without 

 too much coarse litter be used at the rate of 10 to 12 tons per acre and 

 that the soils be well compacted by rolling several times with a well 

 weighted roller. 



On the upland soils some benefit may be gained by plowing a little 

 deeper and by cultivating the soil very thoroughly. Tillage tends to re- 

 lease the insoluble potash, make the nitrogen compounds more avail- 

 able and to conserve the soil moisture. 



In conclusion it is advised that fertilizers be used only on the best 

 lands next spring. At the present prices, it will not pay to attempt to 

 build up poor soils with them. 



Samples were drawn from stock in the hands of the following list of 

 dealers : 



Adrian — J. B. Bennett, W. R. Bradish, Cutler Dickerson Co., Elmer D. 

 Smith & Co., J. C. Van Doren, C. E. Winnie. 



Albion— F. E. Nowlin & Co. 



Alma — J. M. Monugal. 



Almont — Frank Bishop. 



Anchorville — Fred Brockmiller, C. L. Bethny, 



Ann Arbor — Gensley Bros,, Ann Arbor Abattoir Co. 



Atkins — J. J. Norman. 



Bad Axe — The Farmers Elevator & Prod. Co. 



Bangor — M. D. Trim Co. 



Battle Creek — Robt. Binder Est, Armstrong & Brown, A. K. Zimm, 

 Powers & Co. 



