PROFITABLE FARMING n 



farm-yard manure are returned to the land, 

 both of which contain appreciable quantities of 

 this constituent, have to a large extent pre- 

 vented such loss of potash as has occurred in 

 other countries, so that heavy applications are 

 generally neither necessary nor profitable. The 

 most striking effect of potash man- 

 ures is in increasing the production of JJJJjJjJ ^ 

 starch and sugar, so that they are 

 mainly of importance to potatoes and mangolds. 

 Almost as important is their effect on grass- 

 land, where they encourage the leguminous 

 plants (clover, &c.,) and sweeten the herbage 

 of pastures. 



On light soils, sandy and gravelly, also on 

 chalk and peat, an application of potash will 

 almost invariably do good. Strong 

 clay soils are usually naturally rich where 

 in potash, and, though not always in Potash is 

 an available form, this potash can mostbene- 

 to a large extent be set free by a flclal ' 

 moderate dressing of lime. 



The forms in which potash is usually obtain- 

 able are sulphate and muriate of potash, the 

 commercial grades of which contain 

 about 50 per cent, of potash, and p" 

 kainit, which contains about 12 per 

 cent, of potash, together with about 30 to 35 

 per cent, of salt. It should be noted that 

 these make a considerable demand upon the 

 carbonate of lime present in the soil, more 

 especially kainit and muriate of potash. 



