COAL ASH.

Otago Witness, Issue 930, 25 September 1869, Page 11

COAL ASH.

To the Editor of the Otago "Witness. Sir— l believe there exists amongst the unlearned some doubt as to whether it is expedient to use the ash of lignite in agricultural and horticultural pursuits. For the purpose of solving the doubt, I forward an extract from Public Opinion regarding the use of Coal Ash, and would, through your columns, solicit information as to the difference of the chemical properties of the two, and under what circumstances lignite ash may be used, if ever. — lam, &0., Indoctus. Dunedin, September 14. Utility of Coal- ash in Agriculture.— A correspondent of the Paris Journal of Agriculture, seeing tho amount of ashes thrown away annually, and considering that Sir Humphrey Davy and other chemists have found by analysis that ashes contain many substances which contribute to vegetable life, such as sulphate of potash and lime, various compounds of acids and minerals, carbonate of lime, alumina, and silica, has made some interesting experiments. In the autumn he filled threo flower- pots with coalashes, without any admixture with any : othor substance ; in tho one pot ho sowed wheat, in the other oats, nnd in tho third strawberry seeds. Tho pots wore then placed in a garden bed, and left to thornselves. In the month of March the plants were in a very thriving condition, and in April were luxuriant. The wheat and oats ripened perfectly, the grains being large and heavy, and tho straw, in tho case of the wheat, 55in., and that of tho oats, A'Sia. high. The strawberry plants continued to flourish until October, whun it was necessary t*> transplant thorn ; and after being plantod out on the open ground thoy succeeded so well thnt tho writer says they nurpassod all othor *r<M\lings, The experiment is at. interesting one*