582 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



fertilizer of nitrate of soda and muriate of potasli. The experiments 

 were in two series, one on coarse granitic soil and the other on finer 

 granitic soil. The slag and mineral phosphates produced only insignifi- 

 cant results on the first soil, but were more effective on the second. 



Commercial fertilizers, P. Collier and L. L. Van Slyke {New 

 Tori- State Sta. Ept. 1891, pp. 149-170, 536-569).— This includes the text 

 of the State fertilizer law as amended May 9, 1894; discussions of the 

 quality of wood ashes offered on the market, of the amount and average 

 composition of the fertilizers sold in New York during 1894, and of the 

 advantages of home-mixing fertilizers; notes on valuation; a list of 

 manufacturers offering fertilizers for sale in the State in 1894, and tab- 

 ulated analyses of 330 samples of fertilizers, reprinted from Bulletins 73 

 and 85 of the station (E. S. E., 6, p. 287; 7, p. 211). 



From replies to a circular of inquiry addressed to fertilizer manufac- 

 turers it is estimated that the total amount of fertilizers sold in the 

 State in 1894 was 59,528.9 tons, 48,350.5 tons of which was complete 

 fertilizers. 



Wood ashes. — Compiled analyses from different sources are reported, 

 to shovr the wide variation in the commercial product. 



In order to determine the amount and the quality of the ashes pro- 

 duced by different kinds of woods "in a manner comparable with 

 actual practice, about an equal weight each of 19 varieties of air-dried 

 hard and soft woods were taken, and each lot was burned in a furious 

 fire in an open hearth." 



The results obtained were as follows: 



Amount and composition of cashes of hard and soft wood. 



"In order to determine the approximate loss by burning at the high temperature 

 of the hearth, approximately equal quantities of the same woods were taken and 

 incinerated at a very low temperature, and there was found in the ashes of the hard 

 woods 17.35 per cent of potash and in the ash of the soft woods 9.61 per cent of potash. 



"From the above results it will be clearly seen that pure, unleached, hard-wood 

 ashes, of which we hear so much, is an evanescent dream and a fiction, for there is 

 nothing approaching it found in the markets. 



"While it is probably true that ashes are bought for, and their beneficial eft'ects is 

 mainly due to, the potash they contain, it is clear that the potash is thus obtained 

 at an excessive price as compared with its commercial value in the several potash 

 salts of the German mines, but it must not be forgotten that the other constituents 

 of ashes have an agricultural value, direct or "indirect, which may often justify their 

 application even at their present prices and average composition; but it is important 

 for the purchaser to remember that there is really no significance in the terra 'pure, 

 unleached ashes,' and a guaranteed percentage of potash, as also freedom from any 

 adulteration, should be insisted upon, since it would be an easy matter to increase 

 the percentage of potash by admixture with a sufficient quantity of the cheaper 

 potash salts," 



