The Composition and Use of Fertilizers. 



2S3 



One pound of Phosphoric Acid is furnished by 

 Five pounds of bone-meal, or 



Six and three-fourth pounds of dissolved bone-black, dis- 

 solved bone, or dissolved rock. 



One pound of Actual Water-soluble Potash is furnished by 

 Two pounds of sulphate of potash, or 

 Two pounds of muriate of potash, or 

 Eight pounds of kainit, or 

 Twenty pounds of unleached wood ashes. 



It should be understood that the materials given in the following 

 mixtures may not furnish the elements of plant food in the cheap- 

 est form. The point of cost must be determined by each individ- 

 ual farmer for himself at the time he makes his purchases. 



Alfalfa. 



Per Pounds for 

 cent, one acre. 



Pounds of different materials for one 

 acre. 



Nitrogen. 



Available phosphoric acid. 

 Potash 



1 5 to 10 30 to 60 pounds nitrate of soda; 

 1 to 2 tons half-rotted stable 1 

 manure. 

 8 30 to 60 200 to 400 pounds dissolved rock. 

 10 50 to 100 100 to 200 pounds muriate of pot- 

 ash. 



Suggestions. — The quantity given above is intended as an an- 

 nual surface application after the crop has been started. It may 

 be well to lime the ground thoroughly the fall before putting in 

 the crop. The soil should have an abundance of plant food when 

 the crop is put in, and it is recommended at this time to make the 

 following application: Sixty pounds nitrate of soda, 100 pounds 

 of dried blood (or 150 pounds of cotton seed meal), 500 pounds 

 of dissolved rock, and 400 pounds of muriate of potash. The soil 

 needs to be in the best condition of tillage when putting in a crop 

 of alfalfa and this may be readily secured by previous growth of 

 some crop that requires considerable cultivation. In such case, a 

 part of the fertilizer can be applied to the preceding crop. 



