96 FERTILITY AND FERTILIZER HINTS 



soil. In experiments at the Massachusetts Experiment Station, 

 Goessmann found that continued applications of muriate of pot- 

 ash produced sickly crops which were made well and healthful by 

 an application of lime. Therefore acid soils should always re- 

 ceive an application of lime before the use of potash as chloride. 

 As potash is quickly fixed in the soil and the chlorides washed 

 out, it is often advisable to apply chloride of potash some time 

 before the crop is planted, especially when the crop that is to be 

 planted is injured by chlorine. The fixation of potash usually 

 occurs in the surface soil and so rapidly does this fixation take 

 place on some alluvial soils, that it is necessary to work it in soon 

 after applying to insure an even distribution. 



Functions of Potash. — The intelligent use of potash fertilizers 

 requires a knowledge of the effect of this constituent on crops. 

 Potash is essential to the formation of starch, sugar and cellulose 

 (pure fiber) in plants. When there is a deficiency of available 

 potash in soils, certain plants do not mature well. 



Potash Favors Seed and Straw Formation. — HalP says : On 

 grass plots another very striking effect of potash manuring is 

 also very manifest. On the potash-starved plots the grasses fail 

 to a large extent to develop any seed, and the heads are soft and 

 barren, presumably because of the deficiency in carbohydrate for- 

 mation. For the same cause the straw, not only of the grasses, 

 but also on the similarly manured wheat and barley plots, is also 

 weak and brittle when potash is wanting. 



Potash Effects the Leaves. — Grass grown on soils deficient in 

 potash tends to show the effect of this constituent by producing 

 a brown sickly appearance. The grass blades often turn brown 

 about 2 inches from the tip and die off. The leaves of root crops 

 also often show a lack of potash when they are nearing maturity, 

 by a spotted or brown coloration. 



Potash Effects Maturity. — Experiments show that soils without 

 sufficient potash do not produce as valuable grain crops in dry 

 seasons as soils rich in this constituent. This is probably due 

 to the fact that potash causes a longer growing period and holds 

 back maturity. With root crops the opposite effect has been 



' Fertilizers and Manures. 



