No. 6. DEPARTMENl" OF AGRICULTURE. 847 



Now, taking these facts as to the root system into consideration, 

 it would seem to present another strong argument in favor of 

 broadcasting the fertilizer. Wide distribution also brings the phos- 

 phates in contact with a greater amount of soil waters and thus 

 increases their availability. In case of raw bone, broadcasting would 

 favor decomposition and the natural agencies for rendering it avail- 

 able. Putting bone, acid and other organic fertilizers in the hill will 

 often produce fermentation that will kill the germinating seed. 



There are times and circumstances, however, when it probably 

 would be advantageous to apply phosphates, or even other fer- 

 tilizers in the hill or drill. Such cases would probably be caused 

 by the following considerations: 



1st. When very small quantities were being used and it w'as only 

 desired for the purpose of giving the crop a rapid start, while the 

 natural fertility was suflficient for growing a good crop after it 

 was well started. 



2d. Under some circumstances the application in the hill or drill 

 would have a tendency to retard the reversion of the soluble phos- 

 pliatLS and thus keep it for a longer time in a form more available 

 to certain crops. This consideration may obtain in some cases with 

 such crops as potatoes. 



3d. The application of small quantities of phosphates and other 

 fertilizers (particularly kainit) will sometimes protect plants from 

 cut worms and root lice in the early stages of their grow^th. 



Putting fertilizer in the hill has been likened to a man sitting 

 down on his dinner pail and then reaching out for his dinner in all 

 directions, but there is no doubt that in some cases and with 

 some plants it is just as easy for the roots to reach and feed on 

 the fertilizer in the hill as it would be for a man to utilize the 

 dinner under such circumstances. 



Taking everything into consideration, it would probably be best, 

 under ordinary circumstances, to always apply phosphates broad- 

 cast and only put it in the hill when guided by special conditions. 



THE AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL VALUE OF PHOSPHATES. 



Notwithstanding the numerous explanations that have been made 

 in the agricultural press, in bulletins and by lecturers at farmers' 

 institutes, etc., of the difference between the agricultural value 

 and the commercial value of fertilizers, farmers are continually con- 

 founding the two values, and falling into the error that because 

 one fertilizer has a higher commercial value than another it must 

 necessarily have a higher agricultural or fertilizing value as well. 



The commercial value of a fertilizer depends upon its abund- 

 ance, the ease with which it is produced and the amount being 



