13 



No. i. 



Lbs. Cts. 

 per ton. per lb. 



Nitrogen i%x2o = 20 at 30 $6.00 



Phosphoric acid (available) ... 6% x 20 =120 at 10 12.00 



Potash i%x2o = 20 at 10 2.00 



$20.00 



No. 2. 



Lbs. Cts. 

 per ton. per lb. 



Nitrogen 4% x 20 = 80 at 15 $12.00 



Phosphoric acid (available) ... 8% x 20 =160 at 5 8.00 



Potash 2% x 20 = 40 at 5 2.00 



$22.00 



In reality, the fertilizer at $22 per ton is cheaper than the one at 

 $20 per ton. 



Cost per pound of constituents in : No. 1. No. 2. 



Nitrogen $0.30 $0.15 



Phosphoric acid (available) ." 10 .05 



Potash 10 .05 



This may seem an extreme case, but it is well within the facts, which 

 may be ascertained by consulting the bulletins on fertilizer analyses, as 

 published by the different States." 



It will thus be seen that the Government in compelling the manu- 

 facturer and dealer to produce the guarantee at time of sale, does not 

 wholly protect the farmer. He must be able to use the data given to 

 ascertain which fertilizer will really give him the best value. Further- 

 more, sometimes the guarantees are rendered confusing to the purchaser, 

 because of the way in which they are stated, and if he is going to buy 

 intelligently he must endeavor to post himself as to the meaning of the 

 different terms. 



Home-Mixing of Fertilizers. 



Reference to the bulletins of the Dominion Inland Revenue Depart- 

 ment shows that there are a great number of brands of fertilizers on the 

 market which are specially recommended for certain crops. These mix- 

 tures may or may not suit the conditions of the soil and the needs of the 

 crop. Unfortunately, the tendency is for the farmer to buy these mix- 

 tures, but as they understand the true principles of fertilization, the 

 tendency will be to buy the simple substance, as nitrate of soda, muriate 

 of potash, and superphosphate, or the Thomas phosphates, which are 

 not so hard to understand, to make up the deficiency of the soil or to 

 supply the needs of the crop. Or they may buy these high-grade ma- 

 terials of known quality and prepare their own mixtures. 



