CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1915, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

POTASH AX I) PATRIOTISM. To.tho ordinary lay mind, there would -seem to be very little connection between potash and patriotism, but in the current number of the Journal of Agriculture Mr. 11. 0. Aston. F.LC. lias some very pertinent remarks on this subject, lie points out the importance ol conserving the milunil supplies of •potash in Xew /calami, in order that the enemy, who cenclits lijiaiicially by' every ton of potash sails t | lllt Kl . ;,„. | port from Germany, may not twice more British gold tiniii is absolutely necessary. Kvery !„yal farmer w'll naturally endorse this view, but the queslion is: will h j (. help [„ carry it only All the Taranaki farmers who look up bus-li land are well aware of the great fertilising power of the ashes resulting from the burned bush. Iml there are! many who do not know the relative value of the ash obtained from the various kinds of wood. The ash of bonfires from hedge trimmiinjrs, weeds, and 9ue-h like, contains 11 per cent. of potash, worth. £6 per ton in Xew

ilealaiid. It is the young growth that is richest in potash, and this growth is discarded- in the trimming process, Corse ash is worth £l2 12s per ton, and rata asli '£l3' 10a fid. The great fault in treating ashes, says Mr. Aston. i, that they are not collated as soon as produced, and the potash carbonate runs off in Hue first shower and is lost. In these times it is especially incumbent on every miemlber of the community, not only to prevent waslo, but to utilise to the utmost of iU capacity every article that will enlarge <|,e productive power of the soil. It may be thouglit that the trouble of gathering and using wood ashes .is not worth while, but that is not so. Bush farmers and others will find it pays to follow the advice of Mr. Aston.