140 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
was not attended to. Secondly , they should see that 
the outer posts are braced in the direction that the 
wire draws upon them, in the most substantial manner. 
In the absence of sufficient bracing, we have seen a 
beautiful and costly wire fence, with iron uprights set 
in stone, all swept over clean by a few colts unsuccess¬ 
fully attempting to vault it. Thirdly , the wire should 
be of good size—not less than No. 4 or 5—fences with¬ 
out number have been snapped to fragments by at¬ 
tempting to use such cheaper sizes as 10 or 12. 
For the benefit of such of our readers^as may not be 
familiar with the various sizes, we subjoin a diagram 
showing the diameters from three to twelve, indica¬ 
ted by the shorter or cross lines, very nearly. 
Value of Ashes in Agriculture. 
Eds. Co. Gent, and Cultivator —The following 
extract from a letter recieved by me, explains the 
origin of this article, which is also at your service for 
publication if you think desirable:—“Soliciting re¬ 
spectfully some information concerning the best and 
most profitable mode of using ashes , taking into con¬ 
sideration the kind of soil, also the crop, time to ap¬ 
ply, quantity, management, <fec., items of great impor¬ 
tance to farmers.” (Signed) Yours, &c., Rev.-. 
Dear Sir—Y ours of the 22d ult., making inquiries 
about the best method of using ashes as a manure, was 
duly received, and I am happy to oblige you with any 
information in my power. 
The inorganic part of all plants (i . e. the ash,) al¬ 
though differing in some particulars, yet so uniformly 
contains the same leading elements, viz. lime, potash, 
soda, magnesia and phosphorus, that ashes must always 
be of some benefit to them all. However, in addition 
to furnishing these elementary bodies to plants, they 
have other beneficial action—as chemical, in rendering 
insoluble bodies soluble, neutralizing acids, inducing 
and aiding-fermentation—or mechanical, as tending to 
loosen or solidify the soil. These various effects of 
course will depend upon the kind of soil to which they 
are applied and other attendant circumstances. If 
applied to sour or peaty soils containing much inert 
vegetable matter, its acids will be neutralized and de¬ 
composition promoted. But if the soil is sandy, the 
alkali will favor the solution of the silica, forming 
silicates so necessary to the growth of the straw of 
grain and grass. 
As ashes have a tendency to liberate ammonia from 
its combinations, they should never be mixed with 
guano or any nitrogenous manure, unless absorbents 
are present in large quantity to retain it as soon as it 
is set free. This is readily shown by mixing a little 
ashes with moistened guano or in a heap of fresh barn¬ 
yard manure. 
As ashes are in part readily soluble, they ought to 
be applied only during the growing season. Leached 
ashes still retain their lime and phosphoric acid; 
therefore, although their effects are not so immediately 
visible, yet they possess a high value, and their influ¬ 
ence is very enduring. 
The locality and circumstances alone must decide to 
what crops ashes must be applied. As they contain no 
weed seeds, they are a favorite dressing for all hoed 
crops. Mixed with plaster, in the proportions of three 
of ashes and one of plaster, I have used them with 
the greatest apparent benefit on corn, potatoes and 
roots, putting a small handful on each hill of the corn 
and potatoes when they first appear above ground, and 
sowing the mixture on turneps and other roots. The 
color of the leaves soon changes to a richer, darker 
green, and the plant assumes an appearance of greater 
luxuriance. Carrot and beet seed, soaked 24 hours, 
and rolled in ashes, come up stronger, and of a finer 
color than without the application. 
By the use of ashes on cold, damp meadow, the moss 
is eradicated, as the increased growth of the valuable 
grasses soon overpowers it; but thorough draining 
must also be employed to produce permanent results. 
In making composts, which consist mostly of turf or 
peat, ashes are very valuable, as they aid much in de¬ 
composing such bodies. 
I have had no experience in the use of ashes on light 
sandy land, but have no doubt of their high value there 
also. As a manure for fruit trees they are invaluable, 
containing as they do, all the inorganic materials they 
need, without the nitrogenous bodies stimulating to 
over luxuriance. 
Ashes differ very much in their character and qual¬ 
ities, depending on.the kind of wood from which they 
are made, and the circumstances under which it is 
burnt. When they are formed in a common stove and 
removed daily, there will remain many fragments of 
charcoal, largely increasing the bulk made from a 
given quantity of wood. A cord of wood thus manag¬ 
ed, may yield a barrel or more, while burnt in an air 
tight stove where the ashes are rarely removed, it 
would not make a half bushel; these last, possessing 
equal strength, would be nearly as valuable as the 
more bulky product, but some caution must be used in 
thei.r application to small and delicate plants, or they 
will be bitten, and perhaps destroyed by their causti¬ 
city. The silicates may also become partially vitrified 
by the burning, and will be heavy like sand; in this 
case their action will be slower and more durable, but 
their actual value will remain. 
Ashes are advantageously used for the destruction of 
insects, and protection of plants from their ravages. 
The slimy snail, which strips the green from the leaf 
of our fruit trees, leaving the fibrous part, is destroyed 
by throwing ashes upon the leaves when wet with dew 
or fog. By taking a small quantity at a time in a 
shovel, they may easily be thrown so as to cover the 
foliage of trees of considerable size. 
A timely application of ashes will also to some de¬ 
gree save the young turneps and eabbages from the 
ravages of the little black ‘beetles which attack them 
on their first appearance, causing them to grow less 
