FERTILIZERS. 71 



named compounds. It is customary to reckon the potassium of these salts as actual potash. 

 In the sulphates this term expresses the amount of potassium oxide, potassa, or potash present. 

 In the muriates it represents the amount of potash which the potassium would make if it were 

 combined with oxygen instead of chlorine 100 Ibs. of pure sulphate of potash contains 

 about 54 Ibs. of actual potash. 100 Ibs. of sulphate of potash are therefore said to be 

 equivalent to 54 Ibs. of actual potash, and vice versa, 54 Ibs. of potash in the sulphates are 

 reckoned as equivalent to 100 Ibs. of sulphate of potash. In the muriates, 100 Ibs. of 

 chloride of potassium are reckoned equivalent to about 63 Ibs of potash, and vice versa. 



How to use Potash Salts as Fertilizers. &quot;The results of experiments in differ 

 ent places are so varying that it is impossible to lay down precise rules to apply to all cases. 

 The potash salts sometimes bring a remarkable increase of crop, and sometimes do no good 

 at all. Whether a given soil is deficient in potash or not, can be best told by actual experi 

 ment. In general, potash is most likely to be lacking in light, sandy, and calcareous soils, 

 and in those which consist largely of decayed vegetable matter, like peat and muck beds and 

 moors. It is more apt to be plenty in loamy and in clayey soils that come from what the 

 geologists call igneous rocks, which, like the trap rocks of our region, and the granites, 

 syenites, and other rocks that contain felspar and mica, are rich in potash. But in soils of 

 either of these classes the available supply may be reduced by cropping. Where guanos, 

 phosphates, bone, fish-manures, and other fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphoric acid and 

 lime, but furnishing little or no potash and magnesia, do not bring as large returns as for 

 merly, a trial of potash salts is to be recommended. 



The potash salts have proven especially beneficial for fodder crops, like clover, grass, 

 and rye ; for leguminous crops, such as beans and peas, and vetches ; and for potatoes, roots, 

 tobacco, and fruits. The immediate effects upon grain crops are usually not so beneficial. 

 When applied shortly before putting in the seed, the result is often unsatisfactory, especially 

 as regards the quality of the grain. For tobacco they have proved highly beneficial, and 

 there is reason to presume they might do the same for corn. They have been found 

 remarkably useful in some cases for fruits, especially grapes, and their use for our failing 

 orchards and other fruit-trees is worthy, at least, of trial. 



In fact, the question whether it will pay to use potash salts in any given case or not, is 

 one that cannot be decided in advance. Chemists can not give prescriptions for your failing 

 soils as doctors do for your diseased bodies. You must settle such questions yourselves by 

 actual trial. I should therefore by no means advise any one to invest in large quantities of 

 these salts before he had found whether they were going to benefit him enough to make it 

 profitable or not. 



As I have said, the high grades will, generally speaking, be best for our use. The 

 chlorides are the cheapest, because they are produced at less cost from the crude salts; but 

 for such crops as potatoes and tobacco, the sulphates are safer. The general effect of the 

 chlorides is to increase the quantity rather than to improve the quality of these crops. They 

 are apt to make the potatoes soggy, and to injure the burning quality of tobacco. So if you 

 want your potatoes mealy, use the sulphates; and if you grow tobacco, and would have it good, 

 use the sulphates. The muriates are apt to injure the burning quality of the leaf, giving 

 it a tendency to char and hold fire but a short time, which is not the case with the sulphates. 



For fodder crops, like clover, grass, and corn, and for grain, and, indeed, for any of 

 the crops we raise in this part of the country, except the ones just mentioned, the chlorides 

 may be used to advantage. I have lately noticed some statements, by the way, that the use 

 of the chlorides for sugar-beets is rather on the increase in Germany, the effect on the per 

 centages of sugar and of objectionable materials in the juice not being so bad as had formerly 

 been supposed. 



The method of applying potash salts is a matter of great importance. Cases are very 



