1904.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



101 



Table shotviny the Maximum, Minimum and Average Per Cents, of the 

 Different Ingredients fou7id in Wood Ashes for the Season of 1903. 



We advise farmers, before buying ashes, to ascertain if 

 the party of whom they are to purchase is on record as hav- 

 ing complied with our State laws, and holds a license for the 

 sale of his article in Massachusetts. Protection by our State 

 laws is only secured by patronizing dealers and importers 

 who have complied with our laws for the regulation of the 

 trade in commercial fertilizers. 



There are indications that more care is taken by some of 

 our importers in the collection and shipment of ashes than 

 has been the case in the past. In some cases as high as 8 

 and 9 per cent, of potassium oxide has been guaranteed in 

 carloads of ashes imported from Canada ; this is 3 or 4 per 

 cent, higher than the usual guarantee of this element. The 

 importance of buying ashes on a specified guaranteed com- 

 position of each of the essential elements, — potash, phos- 

 phoric acid, and also lime — cannot be too strongly urged 

 upon our farmers. 



(b) Lime Ashes. — Judging from the increased number 

 of samples of lime ashes that have been received during the 

 season for analysis, this material is used more commonly 

 than heretofore to furnish lime to those soils which require 

 an application of this ingredient. Although being a valuable 

 source of lime, it is well to remember that lime ashes are a 

 refuse product in the production of burned lime, and are 

 therefore apt to vary widely in chemical composition (see 

 following table), depending largely upon the mode of hand- 

 ling as well as exposure to the weather. Lime ashes should 

 therefore be bought on a statement of guarantee of the quan- 



