WOOD AND COAL ASHES. 175 



would be derived from its use around stables and 

 cattle-sheds, by catching and absorbing the liquid 

 droppings of animals, is too little understood or 

 appreciated by fanners. A large amount of 

 valuable manure could be prepared yearly by 

 this means alone, without much trouble or ex- 

 pense, as the urine of animals the most valuable 

 portion is too often allowed to go to waste. 



The Leaves of Trees, when well rotted in the 

 compost pile, is a very valuable source of fertil- 

 izing elements, as the following Table, showing 

 the amount of the substances named, contained in 

 different varieties in their dry state, demonstrates : 



Phosphoric acid. Potash. Lime. 



Mulberry Leaves. 0*36 per cent. 0'69 per cent. O90 percent. 



Horse-chestn't " 0-61 " 1-47 " 3'04 



Walnut " 0-28 " 1-86 " 3*76 



Beech " 0'28 " 0-35 " 3-03 



Oak " 0-40 " 0-17 " 2-38 



Fir " 0-23 " 0'14 " 0'58 



Bed Pine " 0'48 " 0-09 " 0*88 



From the above Table the farmer can readily 

 estimate the value of these substances, and see 

 how far they will enable him to produce valuable 

 crops. To render them immediately available 

 as plant food, they should be intimately mixed 

 with the other ingredients of the compost heap. 



Wood and Coal Ashes contain a variable 

 amount of potash and phosphoric acid. The 

 former would amply repay the farmer for ap- 



