and tts Economic Management. 425 
the soil is deficient in potash. The grasses have little or 
no nutritive value; the clovers are almost non-existent ; 
while fruit trees may shed their blossom without forming 
fruits. 
A dressing of potash immediately improves the feeding 
value and increases the bulk of grass crops; while plants of 
the clover family, hitherto starved to death or unable to 
germinate from dormant seed, will be found thickly 
crowding the ground and growing most luxuriantly. 
Fruit trees put forth new root and top growth, bearing 
more and larger fruits. 
Of course this is only one, but without doubt the most 
important item in connection with plant life, not even 
excepting lime or phosphates; and the facts set out must 
further demonstrate the absurdity of civilized man in largely 
discarding potassium salts from his diet, seeing that his 
own body must be built upon the proper balance of the 
mineral constituents of the soil which supports him. 
More Potash, more Starch, more Sugar. 
It has been shown that clover land becomes “ sick,” and 
some clovers will not grow again in the same field for seven 
years ; that is until available soluble potash has again been 
unlocked from the soil. An added supply of soluble 
potash therefore means more starch manufactured in fibre 
and leaves, with a more robust growth, and ultimate 
development into sugar in fruits, and nectar in flowers, 
all in greater quantity. 
Basic Slag and Potash for Honey, Milk and Hay. 
Careful experiments have shown that the most profitable 
returns in: farm crops are gained by dressing the soil with 
10 cwt. of basic slag, and 1 cwt. of sulphate of potash to 
the.acre. As the beneficial result lasts beyond two years, 
and the first cost is under 42 per acre; the estimated 
