FORMULA FOR A HOME-MADE FERTILIZER. 97 



It may be objected that purchasers of raw materials would 

 be liable to become the victims of frauds, the same as when 

 purchasing manufactured fertilizers ; but such is not the case. 

 As a source of nitrogen, nitrate of soda, in crystals, can be 

 bought of importers with guarantees of a certain percentage of 

 pure nitrate, and the crystals usually analyze from ninety to 

 ninety- five per cent. So also the muriate of potash is sold 

 with a guarantee that it is eighty-six or ninety per cent, pure, 

 and these guarantees are quite reliable. Bone in flour, as a 

 source of phosphoric acid, is the most hazardous to purchase ; 

 but whole bones can be secured, calcined and ground, and thus 

 all risk is removed. Other sources of supply of the three great 

 essentials of plant-food, do not offer any greater risks of decep- 

 tion than those mentioned. 



Allow me to present a formula for a compounded fertilizer, 

 which has proved of the highest value, and which can be readily 

 prepared. I have used bone charcoal from the sugar refiners, 

 as a cheap source of phosphoric acid, but burnt bones may be 

 used instead, at about the same cost, and with fully as good 

 results. 



Take nine hundred pounds of bone charcoal, four hundred and 

 eighty-six pounds of oil of vitriol, one hundred and seventy- one 

 pounds of water ; mix the water with the acid, and gradually 

 add the bones, stirring the mass, that it may be fully acted 

 upon. This affords a superphosphate which is dry enough to 

 be ground, as soon as it is cool, and it can be ground in a plas- 

 ter mill. To this add four hundred pounds of nitrate of soda, 

 one hundred pounds of muriate of potash in powder, and we 

 have a ton of fertilizing material, which I have found, upon 

 analysis, gives 14 39 parts in the 100 of soluble phosphoric 

 acid, 27.47 parts of soluble phosphate of lime, 2.8 of potassa, 

 3.14 of nitrogen. This gives twice as much soluble phosphoric 

 acid as Bradley's compound, and more nitrogen. The cost of 

 materials, at present market rates, will be about $44. Its 

 actual money value, estimating the active fertilizing principle, 

 according to Prof. Johnson's prices, is a little more than $68, 

 but those prices are too high, and its value would be more 

 correctly estimated, calling it $57. This is a saving worthy the 

 attention of every soil cultivator, and it affords a fertilizing 

 compound of the highest efficacy. 



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