126 FIRESIDE SCIENCE. 



naturally tend to afford a facility and accuracy of 

 manipulation which can hardly be expected of 

 most of those in the pursuits of husbandry. Still, 

 the great obstacle to success in the use of special 

 fertilizers lies in their sophistication and general 

 worthlessness. It is not alone in the so-called 

 " superphosphate " that frauds are practised, but 

 there are deceptions, attenuations, and admixtures 

 in connection with almost all agents which science 

 and experience have pointed out as sources of plant 

 nutriment. A certain class of substances, which 

 have hitherto passed almost unsuspected and un- 

 challenged through the channels of trade, can 

 manifestly no longer remain above suspicion. Un- 

 leached wood ashes, when pure, are of the highest 

 service to farmers and gardeners, and they are dili- 

 gently sought for by almost every one who has 

 lands to till. Specimens of dry ashes, sold as those 

 of wood, have been brought to me, which upon 

 chemical examination were found to be composed 

 of more than fifty per cent, of coal ashes. A 

 schooner-load of ashes brought from an Eastern 

 port, and purchased by a friend at twenty-five 

 cents a bushel, proved to have only an actual value 

 of five cents a bushel. Analysis of a specimen of 

 these ashes was made, with a view of purchasing a 

 quantity if they proved satisfactory. The exami- 

 nation gave the following result : 



