THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Potash. Fertile clays contain an almost inexhaustible supply of potash, but it is not 

 always present in an available form. Caustic lime liberates potash from some of its 

 compounds. Fruit trees thrive well on fertile clays, and loams on the old red sandstone 

 are generally rich in potash. Of this substance, grapes and other fruit require large 

 quantities. Their need is shown by the ash, viz., grapes 60, apples 35 to 68, plums 59, 

 pears 54, cherries 51, pineapples 49, melon 47, gooseberries 38, figs 30, and strawberries 

 21 to 49 per cent. With potash plentifully present, bones will supply phosphates, and 

 liquid manure, soot, guano, and other rich manures nitrogen, but with potash absent 

 there can be no thriving fruit trees ; it must be added, however, that soda, particularly 

 in the case of strawberries, takes the place of potash. In the absence of analysis for 

 determining the constituents of soils, it will suffice for practical purposes to say that 

 where clover grows luxuriantly, the land will contain enough potash for fruit trees. 

 Special provision of it should be made in poor soils. Urine affords a plentiful supply, 

 every ton provides from 30 to 40 pounds of potash, and nitrogen equal to ammonia in 

 about equal quantity, and both in an available form. Wherever animals are kept it 

 should be collected in tanks and applied in winter among plantations of trees, bushes, and 

 strawberries, in a pure state, and in summer, plentifully diluted with water. House 

 sewage diluted with six times the bulk of water is also excellent for assisting the 



swelling of fine fruits. 



Garden and other rubbish, sticks, twigs, old mats, cabbage stumps, all contain 

 potash and other mineral plant foods. These if burned afford a more or less plentiful 

 supply of potash, lime, and phosphoric acid. A peck per square rod of 30 square 

 yards is a proper dressing of wood ashes. Farmyard manure contains 0-3 to 0-5 per 

 cent, of potash. 



Kainit is valued according to its potash salt, potassic sulphate, which should be pre- 

 sent to the extent of 24 per cent.; besides that, there is generally present 30 per cent, of 

 sodium chloride, 14 of magnesic chloride, and 13 of magnesic sulphate, with some calcic 

 sulphate and other matters. In rectified samples the potassic sulphate amounts to 50, 

 72, and 80 per cent. Common kainit contains too much magnesia, and should be mixed 

 with phosphatic and nitrogenous manures, then applied in early spring at the rate of 

 2 cwt. per acre. Muriate or chloride of potash is a variable substance, but 200 Ibs. of 

 it should be equal to 100 Ibs. of potash. On soils deficient in humus this salt (chloride) 

 is hurtful and should not be applied alone, but with a little nitrate of soda its destruc- 

 tive properties are neutralized, and where humus is present it is perfectly harmless. 



