23 

 Unit Values of Potash. 



tPrice % Potash, or units 

 Fertilizer. per ton in one ton. 



Sulphate of Potash $50 30 47 



Muriate " " 41 80 48 



From the study of the use of the different kinds of Nitrogen, Phosphoric 

 Acid and Potash which has already been given, it will be realized that the 

 fertilizer supplying the cheaper unit value is not necessarily the best to use. 

 Each fertilizer has ita own particular use which should be considered in conjunc- 

 tion with its cost. 



OBJECT OF EXPERIMENTING WITH FERTILIZERS. 



The proper and profitable use of fertilizers will only come with considerable 

 experience. There is no better way for the farmer to familiarize himself with 

 the peculiarities of his soil, the characteristics of his crops and the various con- 

 stituents of fertilizers than by actual experiments. Considering all the different 

 conditions existing it is unwise for the farmer to use large quantities of these 

 expensive materials without proving that they will give profitable results. These 

 experiments may be of a very simple nature and the time and labor required 

 in conducting them is practically negligible. An examination of soil in the 

 laboratory often provides valuable information on which to base experiments and 

 the results of fertilizer applications on similar soils are a useful guide. In 

 practice, however, no two soils of the same class are found exactly alike, and 

 each field may be looked upon as having its own peculiarities. Hence, it is most 

 important that the farmer should find out what is the best and most profitable 

 treatment on his own farm. 



Furthermore, when the experiments include the use of the simple materials, 

 such as nitrate of soda, muriate of potash and superphosphate, the experimenter 

 becomes familiar with the fact that he is dealing with three distinct constituents 

 of plant growth. It is to be feared that in many cases purchasers of mixed fer- 

 tilizers do not fully realize the fact and buy the material more from the name it 

 bears than from any definite knowledge of the amount of nitrogen, -phosphoric acid 

 and potash that may be in the fertilizer. Again, carefully conducted experiments 

 enable the experimenter to note the effect of the different constituents upon the 

 growth of the crops. This in itself is valuable, because it helps him to form some 

 idea of the needs of a growing crop from its appearance. 



In this way the experiments not only help to make clear the peculiarities of 

 the soil and crops, but they also aid the experimenter to become more familiar with 

 the fertilizers themselves. Thus, properly conducted experiments should lead to the 

 more intelligent and economical use of these expensive materials. 



t The above prices were quoted in the spring of 1914 for ton lots from the Toronto 

 warehouses. These prices may vary considerably each year, and in different places, and 

 the farmer should •al«ulate the unit values accordingly. 



