Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1875 — Manorial Value of Wood Ashes. [ARTICLE]

Manorial Value of Wood Ashes.

New land is pr werbially good, not that it has more largely the elements of fertility in general, as the trees lakera* e that ihis is not the case, using up what nutriment is annually furnished by the leaves: 1 but it owes its vijue io the potash left after the land is bu>ned over, as is the case also in breaking up the prairie. The principle will be clear y seen by g ving it. a single thought. The ashes furnish the mineral or inorganic part, the atmosphere the rest’, the soil containing sufficient other material (hu-

mus, clay, sand, etc.) for a basis. Bu science or philosophy aside, it has been found that ashes are a superior benefit. Arofind an old heap of spent ashes there will always be a circle of rank growth, usually of grass and weeds of bluish color. This is found to be the case whatever the soil may be. In the strongest garden soil I have noticed it, and also in very poor land. Unleached ashes have a still more marked effect, showing the importance of potash as manure. The tests that have been made, so far as I anr cognizant, always show that the growth, especially of grass, corresponds to the amount of ashes applied; and the amount may be large—seventy to eighty bushels per acre; and evea more. The benefit will show at once, nut not all of it, as the ashes do not give up at once all they contain, being dissolved slowly, so..as to supply potash for several years./ This is my experience, and I believe the uniform experience of every one The reason why ashes are not more highly valued—are not valued for what they are worth—is that they are too sparingly used. When sown on meadows a fewbushels to the acre are all that are used. As but a part is dissolved the first year, it will be readily seen that the effect must be small, less so than that ot plaster, though plaster is one of the ingredients of ashes. But there are not enough ashes to sow largely, and a portion of what we have are permitted to go to waste; particularly is this the case with leached ashes; yet they are nearly as good as unleached and equally lasting. We ought to save every particle of our ashes, in luding the soot from the stovepipes and chimneys. We want them for special uses—to manure our grapevines and fruit trees, and to use in our gardens,.dooryards and lawns. Each farmer or owner "of land, if he burns wood, makes enough ashes for these purposes. The extent of land on which they ape used being circumscribed, they may be used plentifully, in which case the effect will not fail to be highly satfsfac-or-y.. I have used them on grapevines with the most gratifying results, applied mostly as a cover to the mu ch, having the propertv lo keep this moist as well as to impart fertility; lienee they are particularly exc. 1 ent in a drought. Not only is growth of the wood advanced, but that of the fruit also, and! have become convinced that by tlie use of ashes the thivor.of fruit in general is improved. I . know that in connection with thorough drainage this has proved to be the case. Particularly are lawns and dooryards in grass benefited by ashes. Apply at tlie rate of sixty or eighty bushels per acre, more or less, according to whether rhe ashes are made < f hard or soft W'ood —hard wood ashes being the best. A coat ;.p- ---. plied once inthree or four years wid do. I On grapevines, fruit tiee- and the garden I in general 1 find yearly or biennial appliI cations most satisfactory. Of course a less quantity is to be used at each application. Save all ashes carefully during thewinter, and apply early in toe spring. Remember the leached anime is nearly as good as the unleacaed. Let the soapmaking be done early in the spring, so as to apply the ashes early Country Gentlemam