140 TOBACCO LEAF. 



being mixed with wood or coal. When screened and 

 free from excessive moisture, the analysis is not liable to 

 be much below the average stated. The fact that skil- 

 ful Connecticut valley tobacco farmers continue to pur- 

 chase this article in increasing quantities year after year, 

 at from $25 to $35 a ton, is good evidence that a fair 

 equivalent for the money is received. 



A better idea of the peculiar composition of cotton- 

 hull ashes can be obtained by comparing them with the 

 analysis of wood ashes, given in the next line above it 

 (Table IV, Page 112). Average cottonhull ash contains 

 nearly 25 per cent of potash and about 8 per cent of 

 lime. In wood ashes this condition is nearly reversed, 

 the lime being 33 per cent, while the potash is 5 per 

 cent. To furnish as much potash in the form of wood 

 ashes as is obtained in an average ton of cottonhull ash, 

 five tons of wood ashes would be necessary, which, at 

 $11 to $15 per ton, makes a total cost of $60 to $75, or 

 double the cost of cottonhull ash. The quantity of 

 phosphoric acid obtained from cottonhull ash is also 

 four times as much as from wood ashes as lime is a 

 very cheap article, costing about $12 per ton, it is econ- 

 omy to purchase the cottonhull ash and supply the de- 

 ficiency of lime, than to use wood ashes. These facts 

 have been determined by experience as well as analysis, 

 and the custom of applying cottonhull ash and lime to 

 tobacco lands is quite general wherever this ash is exten- 

 sively used, oyster shell lime being preferred. 



Another Objection to Wood Ashes is the great bulk 

 of matter that must be handled if they alone are used as 

 a potash supply. There is, however, some compensa- 

 tion in the large quantity of lime obtained, and wood 

 ashes can be used in part on tobacco lands. The 

 reasonable price of cottonhull ash has prevented any ex- 

 tensive use of wood ashes, and the latter can only be 

 regarded by the tobacco grower as a source of lime so 



