THE KEY-NOTE OF GOOD FARMING. 37 



beginning to follow the same course here, and in the older parts 

 of the country phosphates of lime, (good and bad,) meet with 

 ready sale. Still, as a class, we are learning only one-half of 

 what we ought to learn. We should know not only hew to get 

 a supply of phosphoric acid for manure, but how to economize 

 what we already have, and how to keep up the available supply 

 in the soil ; and I bespeak attention to the further treatment of 

 this subject under the heads of " Manures," " P'eeding," and 

 '•'■ Rotation of Crops." 



POTASH. 



What has been said of the importance of phosphoric acid is in 

 a measure true of potash. P'ortunately this substance has a 

 name and many characteristics which are familiar to all, and its 

 discussion does not require the use of " new-fangled " names and 

 expressions. 



It is second to phosphoric acid in the extent to which it is used 

 by plants, as will be seen by the following table: — 



jimount of Potash contained in l,O0O lbs. of the Ashes of the following substances: — 



Grain of Wheat (average of six analyses) 237 lbs. 



" Indian Corn 250 " 



" Rye 220 « 



" Oats (with shell) 123 « 



" Buckwheat.. 87 " 



" Beans 462 " 



H: 



y SC'O 



Clover , 161 " 



Potatoes 515 " 



Beets 390 " 



Tobacco leaves 264 " 



Note. — The proportion of potash varies considerably in growth under different cir- 

 cumstances. 



The exhaustion of the tobacco lands of the South, and of the 

 potato fields of western Connecticut, is mainly due to the removal 

 of their potash, 



I postpone the further discussion of this subject also to the 

 chapters on " Manures," etc. 



