COAL ASHES. 81 



the value of both. The potash of the ashes (then in 

 the most available form) tears the ammonia of the 

 manure from its combination, changes itself to a 

 less desirable form, and the ammonia to the volatile 

 carbonate of ammonia — and away this latter goes, 

 lost to the owner, and working mischief among the 

 fowls roosting just above where the injurious vapors 

 are generated. Unless you have a special object in 

 view, always apply the ashes to the soil, unmixed. 

 The ashes of both soft and hard coal contain little 

 more than traces of potash and phosphoric acid, 

 and as plant food are probably worth 

 considerably less than fifty cents per 

 ton. For stiff clay soils, however, they usually have 

 a desirable loosening effect, and as a top dressing 

 and mulch, especially in fruit gardens, etc., they 

 are very beneficial. Still, I think the best use that 

 can be made of them is to sift and put them under 

 the hen-roosts as absorbents, or use them in a simi- 

 lar way in stables or privies. Sifted coal ashes 

 absorb liquids, fix volatile ammonia, and prevent 

 offensive odors. 



Cotton-seed hull ashes are available in many 



sections, and not only a most valuable and highly 



concentrated fertilizer, but usually a 



Hull Ashes ^^^5^ cheap one, also. A fair average 



of a number of analysis gives to this 



material about twenty-five per cent of potash and 



ten per cent of phosphoric acid. I would make an 



estimate of its value as follows: 



25 pounds potash @ 5i cents, - - - $1371 



10 pounds phosphoric acid @ at 8 cents, - - 80 



Total, per 100 pounds, - - $2.17i 



or $43.50 per ton, and we could well afford to pay 

 fifty dollars for it; and no tiller of the soil should 



