10 t THE FARMERS^ HANDBOOK. 



Exceptionally high figures for potash were obtained in a sample of the 

 ash of Pinus insignis (from the Forestry Department), which gave 1867 

 per cent, potash, and from the ash of bracken fern, which contained 16*71 

 per cent. 



The process of burning converts the potash salts into carbonate of potash 

 for the most part. The lime is present in the form of oxide and carbonate, 

 and the phosphoric acid partly as calcium phosphate, and partly as alkaline 

 phosphates. Now, carbonate of potash and alkaline phosphates are particu- 

 larly soluble forms of potash and phosphoric acid respectively ; the beneficial 

 action of lime, both in the form of oxide (quicklime) and of carbonate 

 (chalk), is well known. It will, therefore, readily be seen what a valuable 

 manurial substance we have got here. In addition to their direct action as 

 plant-food, wood-ashes act beneficially in improving the quality of stiff clay- 

 lands, and equally so in binding light sandy soils ; in fact, they benefit the 

 soil mechanically exactly in the same way that lime does, though to a 

 lesser extent. With the exception of nitrogen, which, of course, has been 

 burnt off, they contain all the ingredients of a complete manure, and in a 

 particularly serviceable form. 



It might, therefore, be expected that the addition of a nitrogenous substance 

 would make a complete manure of them ; but such addition must be made 

 with caution, as the presence of free lime and alkalies in the wood-ashes 

 is liable to decompose the nitrogen in such a mixture, driving it off in the 

 form of ammonia, the smell of which will be apparent when sulphate of 

 ammonia and wood-ashes are mixed together. 



The ash of young wood is especially rich in potash, and, generally speaking, 

 the ash of young and small wood, as young boughs, twigs, <fcc, is more 

 valuable than that obtained from the trunk or heart of an old tree. 



The following are the best means of utilising wood-ashes : — 



(a) The)" may be used alone as a top-dressing to grass and pasture, and 



for leguminous plants, but are of benefit to nearly all crops, 

 potatoes and roots, fruit and vines being specially benefited. They 

 are applied at the rate of from 25 to 30 bushels per acre. 



(b) A mixture of wood-ashes and bone-meal in the proportion of 5 cwt. 



bone-meal to 25 bushels ashes is said to be an excellent substitute 

 for farmyard manure. Such a mixture should be made as required — 

 not kept mixed. 



(c) They may be used instead of loam or earth for mixing with super- 



phosphate and other chemical fertilisers when these are applied to 

 the land. Ammonium salts must not, however, be mixed with 

 wood-ashes. 



(d) One of the best ways to utilise wood-ashes is in the compost heap. 



The best material with which to compost it is undoubtedly peat, but other 

 decayed or decaying vegetable matter is nearly as good, such as straw, dead 

 leaves, and refuse of this sort generally. Such substances are fermented in 

 contact with wood-ashes, and their nitrogen rendered available. On farms 

 where the compost heap is an institution, it should not be forgotten that the 

 addition of wood-ashes forms the best method of utilising this product and 

 improves the value of the compost heap. Where such a system of utilisation 

 of waste matter is not practised, the following method of composting ashei 



