AND ITS DISEASE. 55 



the other fruits named, viz : potash, lime and phos- 

 phate of lime, these being the important ones, and 

 the only ones indeed required to enable us to point 

 out the requisite manures ; the others being sup- 

 plied in small quantities already in the soil or ob- 

 tained from the atmosphere. 



In the analysis of the peach, apple and pear 

 referred to, potash ranks as the second ingredient 

 of importance, entering largely as a component 

 part of these three loading fruits. We will here 

 briefly present it as another of the alkaline agents 

 with quick lime active in the destruction of the 

 relentless enemy to the peach tree. In speaking 

 of potash we associate it at once with ashes as they 

 are well known to contain largely of this element, 

 and they are all at the command of the farmer 

 that furnish it. 



Practice has shown that Potash exerts a highly 

 favorable influence on the growth of plants. The-, 

 Chemist informs us that potash belongs to the caus- 

 tic alkaline bodies and in this form resembles am- 

 monia, and this similarity is carried out in its 

 strong action in forcing vegetable growth. The 

 virgin soil furnishes us with potash and it will 

 continue to do so, for all kinds of earth and stone- 

 contain stores of it in an insoluble state, and a cer- 

 tain portion is made soluble from year to year by 

 the weather and our plants have the benefit of this. 

 Spreading the fields over with quick lime causes an 

 increased quantity of potash, since lime possesses* 



