ASHES AND BONES. 105 



cording to the ordinary valuation of the ingredients, be 

 worth about twenty-five cents counting on an average of 

 five per cent of potash and two per cent of phosphoric acid. 

 In general, ashes should be spread broadcast over the sur- 

 face of the ground and allowed to be washed in by rains 

 or irrigation, and not placed too near the plant. If plowed 

 in shallow with stubble or weeds, the latter decompose 

 very quickly, and the effect of both is thus improved 

 and quickened. 



It may be said in general terms, that the ashes of wood 

 and of land plants of every kind are of value for manure 

 on every kind of soil which has been reduced by crop- 

 ping; but the greatest benefit is shown upon sandy and 

 porous soils. On these "light soils" crops of every kind, 

 but especially root crops and corn, will be benefited by a 

 dressing of wood ashes. Thirty to fifty bushels to the acre 

 of fresh ashes will be a full dressing, and three or four 

 times that amount of leached ashes may be applied with 

 permanent benefit. 



Bone Manures. Bones as they commonly occur in na- 

 ture contain plant food worth about $30 per ton. The best 

 treatment for bones is to crush them if it can be handily 

 done, and then put them through the fermentation of the 

 compost heap, with fresh manure and wood ashes. It 

 takes from three to six months to reduce them. The bones 

 which do not break down under this treatment can best 

 be buried deeply in the orchard to await slow disintegra- 

 tion by the tree roots. 



