MANURES. flU 



The farmer will perceive from this table, the great value 

 of ashes to his crops. The quantity seems small in compa- 

 rison with the total weight of the vegetable ; yet 'small as it 

 is, the aggregate of a few years will so far exhaust the soil of 

 one or more of the principles necessary to sustain a luxuriant 

 vegetation, that it will cease to yield remunerating returns. 

 The annual exhaustion of salts from large crops of grain, roots 

 and grass, is from 180 to more than 250 Ibs. in every acre of 

 soil. The ashes of vegetables consist of such elements as are 

 always required for their perfect maturity, and it is evident 

 they must furnish one of the best manures which can be sup- 

 plied for their growth. They are to the earthy parts of vege- 

 tables, what milk is to the animal system, or barn-yard ma- 

 nures are to the entire crop ; they contain every element, 

 and generally in the right proportions, for insuring a full and 

 rapid growth. 



Ashes then, may be pronounced the best of the saline ma- 

 nures. They are also among the most economical ; as from 

 our free use of fuel, they are largely produced by almost every 

 household. Good husbandry dictates that not a pound of 

 ashes should be wasted, but all should be saved and applied 

 to the land ; and where they can be procured at a reasonable 

 price, they should be purchased for manure. Leached ashes, 

 though less valuable, contain all the elements of the unleach- 

 ed, having been deprived only of a part of their potash and 

 soda. They may be drilled into the soil with roots and grain, 

 sown broadcast on meadows or pastures, or mixed with the 

 muck-heap. They improve all soils not already saturated 

 with the principles which they contain. 



The quantity of ashes that sfiould be applied to tJie acre-, must 

 depend on the soil and crops cultivated. Potatoes, turnips 

 and all roots clover, lucern, peas, beans, and the grasses 

 are'great exhausters of the salts, and they are'consequently 

 much benefitted by ashes. They are used with decided ad- 

 vantage for the above crops in connexion with bone-dust ; and 

 for clover, peas and roots, their effects are much enhanced 

 when mixed with gypsum. Light soils should have a small- 

 er, and rich lands or clays, a heavier dressing. From 12 to 15 

 bushels per acre for the former, and 30 for the latter, is not 

 too much ; or if they are leached, the quantity maybe increa- 

 sed one-half, as they act with less energy. Repeated dres- 

 sings of ashes, like those of lime and gypsum, without a cor- 

 responding addition of vegetable or barn-yard manures, will 

 eventually exhaust tillage lands. 



