ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
77 
lie oxydes.* The smaller the quantity of earths and oxydes 
contained in ashes, the greater is their value. Slaked 
ashes produce a better effect than the unslaked.* 
58. There is a great analogy in the action of ashes and 
lime. Like lime, they are best upon soils that are not 
calcareous, and upon those on which the carbonate of lime 
is the most effective. They loosen and increase the fer¬ 
tility of compact soils ; but it is only in favorable situa¬ 
tions, in the vicinity of cities, that they can be procured 
in sufficient quantity for this purpose. But in all cases 
they must be well spread. 
59. Ashes appear to agree better with well-d*ained 
moist lands than with those that are naturally dry. As is 
ihe case with calcareous ameliorators, they should never 
be considered as manures ; for they, on the contrary, hasten 
the exhaustion of the soil, by forcing the plants to take 
from it a greater quantity of nourishment. 
60. Ashes are exceedingly beneficial to almost all crops; 
and in the vicinity of cities they are eagerly sought after, 
and used to an extent only limited by the supply. 
61. Ashes are very generally recommended to amelio¬ 
rate meadow-lands, applied to which, they enable the 
better grasses to compete successfully with moss, rushes, 
and other noxious plants. This is, however, not always 
the case. 
QUESTIONS. 
1. What is the difference between ameliorators and stimulants? 
2. What is a stimulating ameliorator ? 
3. On what does the efficacy of ashes depend ? 
4. From what are ashes principally made ? 
5. Of what are ashes composed ? 
6. On what does their value depend ? 
* The salts contained in ashes are, the carbonate of lime, the carbonate* 
the sulphate, and hydrochloride of potash. The earths are, silex, aluinine, 
and magnesia. The metallic oxydes are, iron, and manganese. 
7* 
