COAL ASHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1942, Page 6

COAL ASHES

USED AS A FERTILISER. William Leonard, of South Groton, Mass., gave the following statement in the New England Farmer, in 1863, of his experience with coal ashes as a manure: —“On the old mowing-field too much run down, we top-dressed a square piece of ground fairly with clear coal ashes, early in the spring. While the crop was growing at all stages the difference was perceptible. When ready for the scythe it was more in quantity, and as to quality, it produced about equal parts of herd’s grass and red clover. If the clover was not introduced by the agency of the ashes we know not how it was introduced. For four years none was seen there before or in any other part of the field, and this was the only clover seen in the said field the past season. Both grass and clover was more vigorous, green, and lively within the top-dress-ed square. On a hillside not at all renowned for its wealthy properties in soil we planted the Davis seedlings and Jenny Lind potatoes in clear coal ashes, half a shovelful in a hill. Below, on equally as good ground, we planted the same kinds of potatoes in compost manure, and the coal ashes single handed turned out the largest, best, fairest, and,, most numerous quantity of potatoes. In reality, they were the best we raised on the farm. Almost side by side in compost manure our potatoes were somewhat infected with rot; in the ashes they were all healthy and sound, almost to a potato.”