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Show If BURIlfIIG SAGEBRUSH i FOR THE SALTS 1 OF POTASH iM Salt Lnke, March 2S. "Profitable J Sagebrush Growing" Is likely to bo tho title of an agricultural publication . of the near future. In fact, the hlth-:$j hlth-:$j rrto Insignificant desert weed already M has boon made to produce profits J profits In the form of soluble potash .J experiments are being conducted in $ southern Utah and Nevada at the pres-'JB pres-'JB ent time that may result in the pro-IB pro-IB durtlon of potash in commercial quan- '9 l!tles- 9 State Senator M. L-. Lee, cashier of the bank at Piocho, Nev., Is at the head of a movement lo investigate tho possibilities of producing potash from sagebrush Experiments aro already being conducted, or will soon bo starred, starr-ed, at Kanaca, Pioche, Parowan, Cedar City, Milford, Delta, Nephl, Juab, Lovelock and Wlnnemucca. Question as to Rates. Tho most extensive experiment started is at the dry farm owned by Senator Lee, sixty miles west of Pioche Pi-oche Thoro a tractor will be jiut to work, tearing np the sagebrush and slacking it for experimental work. Indications In-dications are that tho venture will be profitable only when handled o;i an extensive scale, with a tractor and rail to drag up tho brush. r. Senator Lee has written to J. H. Mandcrfield, assistant general passenger passen-ger agent of the Salt Lake Route, asking ask-ing for freight rates on tho product. He said ho expected to Irtive 100 cars of tho product ready for shipment from Pioche in tho near future. It Is valued at from $45 to $95 a ton, he says. Ashes of sagebrush, according to chemical investigation, contain potash soluble in water. The quantity varies In different localities, but around southern Utah and Nevada. Senator Leo says there Is an average of 30 per cent. Furthermore, the so-called "rabbit brush, contains even a higher percentage- of potash than the sagebrush. sage-brush. Advertises For Ashes. Senator Leo has advertised In the vicinity, of Piocho that ho will buy, during the next throo months, ashes of sagebrush in carload lots The ashes ash-es will probably contain from 15 lo 30 per cent of soluble potash. The Pioche banker has contracted to ship tho ashes to tho Virginia-Carolina Chemical company of Richmond, Vn,, where they will be purified so as to make pure potash. Arrangements have been made for a chemist In Pioche Pi-oche to analyze tho ashes purchased, and payment will be made according to the following schedule: "Ash containing 31 per cent water soluble potash or more, $95 per ton; ash containinf 25 per cent or more. $S0 per ton, ash containing 20 to 25 per cent, 362.50 per ton; ash containing contain-ing 15 to 20 per cent. $45 per ton." Senator Lee has issued the following follow-ing instructions concerning the preparation pre-paration of the sagebrush ashes for shipment: "It appears that tho leaves and smaller branches contain more potash than the trunk, therefore care should be taken to preserve, so far as possible, pos-sible, the leaves and small branches. "Tho brush must be well burned. If tho ashes are taken from tho fire too boon they contain much carbon or small prrticles of charcoal which contain con-tain potash not soluble. Must Exerclce Care. "If tho ashes or coals are permitted to remain in tho -fire or near the Intense In-tense heat generated by sagebrush until they cool gradually, the coals and carbon will all go to ashes However, How-ever, in burning on a large scale it may bo found advisable to screen the ashes and reburn the charcoal. The best results will bo obtained by burning burn-ing in the open, without much draft. Draft has a tendency to carry away the lighter pnrticlcs containing potash. pot-ash. Remember that the potash is water soluble, and burning on the damp ground will loso much of the potash. My best information is that twenty tons will constitute a carload. "Analysis of the ash should be made at the beginning of the burning, In order to determine the average per cont of potash you may expect, and another consisting of a sample from each sack when tho ash Is ready for shipment. A certificato of the general gen-eral average will then be attached." . no |