Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1915 — FARMERS WHO BURN WOOD SHOULD SAVE THE ASHES [ARTICLE]

FARMERS WHO BURN WOOD SHOULD SAVE THE ASHES

Are Said to Be Good For Fertilizing As They Contain Large Quantities of Soil Food. The farmer who burns wood for heatin igand cooking should carefully store the ashes and not permit them to leach, as they have peculiar fertilizing value. They not only contain potash and phosphoric acid but contain magnesia and lime, and when applied to the lane they also act indirectly to increase the available nitrogen contents of organ-, matter in the soiL Ordinary house ashes contain on the average about 8 or 9 per cent of potash and 2 per cent of phosphoric acid. Investigators have considered that there is enough potash and phosphoric acid in a bushel of ashes to make it worth 2D or 25 cents. Besides that, some 10 or 15 cents additional might be allowed for the “alkali power” of the ashes. This power is that which enables ashes to rot weeds and to ferment peat. The potash content’ of ashes will be lost if they are permitted to leach, and care should be taken to store them in a dry place. Wood ashes may be profitable applied as a top dressing to grass land and to pastures, where they will encourage the growth of clover and the better kinds of grasses, which will then crowd out inferior kinds and weeds. Wood ashes may also be used for com and roots. Because of their lime content they are not so good for potatoes, although sometimes used for this crop. Ashes from hard wood (decidusous trees) are richer in both phosphorus and potash than those from pines and other °oft woods.