APPLICATION OF POTASH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 28

APPLICATION OF POTASH

Potash should be applied in early winter, while there is not much growth and the tree is dormant. The application of potash is much neglected. Fruit trees especially need an application before the buds are open, peach trees are much benefited by a dose at that time.

The application of lime in the winter allows of the impurities being washed out by the winter rains. The soil will keep the potash for us in the coming

There are two kinds of potash—nitrate and sulphate. The sulphate is the best, and is the safest to use both for fruit trees, vines, pot plants,

Muriate of potash (chloride of potash) approaching in constitution to chloride of sodium (common salt) is more difficult to use than the sulphate. It is irritating and bad for all young shootlets. Although muriate of potash has been found in some soils to act well for grapes and potatoes. However, we advise keeping to the sulphate. There is a phosphate of potash which has come into notice, and which is valuable in some cases. A table-

spoonful dissolved in a kerosene tin of water will make a good stimulant during the growth of tomato vines and fruit trees, it will increase the quantity and quality of the fruit. It acts for fruit to other trees much in the same way as nitrate of soda does in the treatment of vegetables. One source for obtaining potash is the dead tireheap, where all primings, leaves and seeded grass, etc., are burnt. The best way is to spread these ashes over the soil and round the roots of fruit trees. Wood Ashes contain a certain amount of potash. These ashes should be kept so as not to be exposed to heavy rains, as in such cases the potash would leak away and be lost. Coal ashes are not of any manurial value. They are only to dig into heavy clay soil of the stiffest characster.