C44 Transactions of the American Institute. 



honey locust, the bay berry, and the bucktliorn, are the best hedge 

 trees. In the soutli, where seasons are mild, the Cherokee rose makes 

 a magnificent hedge-fence. 



Value of Coal Ashes. 



Mr. "W. A. Yonng, Cumberland county, Penn. : Will the club 

 please answer the following questions : I wish to plant potatoes on a 

 piece of new land ; it is a stiff blue grass sod and very heavy soil 

 (limestone). Would coal ashes be of any benefit to lighten it ? How 

 many one-horse loads to the acre ? Will a compost of hen droppings, 

 coal ashes and plaster make a good top-dressing for corn ? About 

 what proportion of plaster should be used? I have been greatly 

 benefited by reading the reports of the club. 



Mr. S. E. Todd. — What I intend to say is, that coal ashes have so 

 little value as manure, that it would take 1,000 loads to do an acre 

 any good. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — I can't agi-ee to that. I have found coal ashes, 

 I mean anthracite coal ashes, worth three dollars or four dollars a 

 ton. I like their effect on a sandy soil. As for their chemical value, 

 I don't care what they say, if, by analysis, they find that they contain 

 no potash, no carbonate of lime, no phosphate of lime, nor any other 

 bi-chemical, they have some good effect on my soil, not- a great deal, 

 I admit, yet enough to give them a certain value. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn. — I use coal ashes at the rate of thirty loads to 

 the acre. I never buy any, but apply all that are produced on the 

 place. It is important to know whetlier they are ashes of anthracite 

 or bituminous coal. As for the loosing up of heavy clay, I would 

 rather do it by fall plowing than with coal ashes. But I would say a 

 word to Mr. Fuller's shy at chemistry. We know that, wlien the 

 ammonia and the phosphoric acid are removed from guano, it is worth- 

 less. Hence, the inference is altogether fair, that manures containing 

 ammonia and phosphorus are a great deal stronger as manures than such 

 as do not contain them. His proposed compost for corn in the hill, hen 

 droppings with plaster, is excellent. But I suggest tlie addition of 

 muck or dry garden loam. Hen manure tlirown near the seed is 

 stimulating, and its effect will be extended, if earth is well mixed with 

 it. I don't think he will gain anything worth while by mixing coal 

 ashes with it. Muck is much better. 



Mr. D. B. Bruen. — I have used the compost nine years on the same 

 land, and always get good corn ; better, I think, the last year than 



