442 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Dec. 



This is a complete fertilizer, and if mixed at home would cost the 

 farmer at present prices exclusive of transportation about $18.50. 



A more highly concentrated form could be made by using for 

 nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, for kainit the high grade sul- 

 phate of potash, and for dissolved rock super-phosphate: 



250 lb<?. sulphate ammonia, containing 20 per cent, nitrogen, fur- 

 nishes 50 lbs. nitrogen. 



450 lbs. sulphate of potash, containing 50 per tent, potash, fur- 

 nishes 225 lbs. potash. 



1300 'bs. super-phosphate, containing 35 per cent, phosphoric acid, 

 furnishes 455 lbs. phosphorus acid. 



This is one of the most concentrated fertilizers that can be made, 

 and would cost if mixed at home, exclusive of transportation, about 

 f46.50, at pref^ent prices of ingredients. Home mixing is one of the 

 things the farmer should understand, for if he can not buy what he 

 needs in the markets at such prices as he can afford to pay, he can 

 make up any composition he may need, and at prices he can afford. 



If he needs only phosphoric acid he will make up a composition 

 containing only phosphoric acid; if he needs only potash, he will use 

 only potash, if only nitrogen he will use only nitrogen; if he needs 

 two or three he will use the two or three. How can the farmer dis- 

 cover what his soil needs? By field trials. A piece of land of uni- 

 form texture and fertility should be chosen and thoroughly culti- 

 vated and prepared for the trials. An acre is divided intO' ten equal 

 parts and either wheat or corn is taken for the trial crop. Make a 

 preliminary trial the first year and verify it next. Small spaces 

 should be reserved between each of the ten spaces. 



The first one-tenth of an acre receives no fertilizer, and is used 

 for comparison. 



The second receives what is called a complete fertilizer: 8 lbs, 

 nitrate of soda, 16 lbs. acid phosphate and 8 lbs. kainit. 



The third receives nitrate of soda and acid phosphate. 



The fourth receives nitrate of soda and kainit. 



The fifth receives acid phosphate and kainit. 



The sixth receives nitrate of soda. 



The seventh receives kainit. 



The eighth receives acid phosphate. 



The ninth receives farm manure. 



The tenth receives gypsum. 



The fertilizer should b© applied after thorough cultivation and 

 before seeding. 



VERIFICATION. 



If a deficiency of nitrogen is indicated in the first experiment, se- 

 lect two crops, one such as wheat, which is particularly benefitted by 

 nitrogen, and another, iueb as corn, wbicb has no diflficulty in obr 



