COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



SOURCES OF POTASH 



The chief sources of potash used for fertilizers 

 are the potash salts from the potash mines at Stass- 

 furt, Germany, where there is an immense deposit 

 of rock salt and potash salts. 



The principal products of these mines used in this 

 country are the crude salts: 



Kainite, containing 12 per cent, of potash. 



Sylvinite, containing 16 to 20 per cent, of potash, 

 and the higher grade salts manufactured from the 

 crude salts: 



Muriate of Potash, containing 50 per cent, potash. 



High grade Sulphate of Potash, containing 50 per 

 cent, potash. 



Low grade Sulphate of Potash, containing 25 per 

 cent, potash. 



Wood Ashes, if well kept and not allowed to get 

 wet and leach, contain 4 to 9 per cent, of potash. 



Cotton Hull Ashes contain 20 to 30 per cent, of 

 potash and 7 to 9 per cent, of phosphoric acid. 



The potash in all these forms is soluble in "water 

 and equally available to plants. The crude salts, 

 kainite and sylvinite, and the muriate contain chlo- 

 rine and are not considered good for potatoes and 

 tobacco as the chlorine lowers the quality of these 

 products. 



In tobacco regions tobacco refuse is a valuable 

 source of potash, the stems are about five per cent, 

 potash. 



