62 The Bulletin. 



ment of Agriculture one hundred and eight (108) special fertilizers 

 for tobacco. It is interesting in this connection to note the wide 

 variation as well as the average composition of these fertilizers. The 

 highest amount of available phosphoric acid guaranteed in any of 

 them was 9.25 per cent; the lowest 5 per cent, and the average 8.12 

 per cent. The highest amount of ammonia guaranteed was 10 per 

 cent, the lowest 2 per cent, and the average 2.73 per cent. The 

 highest amount of potash guaranteed was 5 per cent, the lowest 1 

 per cent, and the average 2.64 per cent. These wide variations in the 

 amounts of the valuable fertilizinsi; constituents indicate that the 

 fertilizers themselves must have had very varying effects on the 

 quality and quantity of the tobacco crop. 



A study of the experiments in tobacco-growing and a consideration 

 of the experiences of good tobacco growers show that the amounts of 

 ammonia and potash in the average tobacco fertilizers, as stated above, 

 are not as large as are needed to give the best results. It would 

 appear that the largest amount of ammonia (10 per cent) in any 

 of these "specials" is greater than is required for bright tobacco, 

 while the maximum quantity of potash (5 per cent) in any of the 

 108 brands is less than is used by numbers of our best bright tobacco 

 growers, especially in the eastern part of the State. A considerable 

 number of these growers either mix their own tobacco fertilizers or 

 else have them put up according to formulas of their suggestion. Be- 

 low are given five formulas for mixing fertilizers for tobacco. The 

 gTade of those fertilizers will be higher and they will, of course, cost 

 more than the goods that are generally used in the State on tobacco, 

 but we feel confident that the increased yield will more than justify 

 the additional expense. In The Bulletin of the Department of Agri- 

 culture and in our correspondence Avith farmers we have been recom- 

 mending formulas of about the composition of these for a number of 

 years, and evidence is accumulating which shows that the character 

 of tobacco fertilizers is undergoing quite a considerable change. 



No. 1— 



Acid phosphate, 14 per cent 750 poimds 



Cotton-seed meal 900 pounds 



Nitrate of soda 100 pounds 



Sulphate of potash, high .srrade 250 pounds 



2,000 pounds 



This mixture will contain: available phosphoric acid, 6.3 per cent; 

 potash, 6.9 per cent; nitrogen, 3.7 per cent (equal to ammonia, 4.5 

 per cent). 



No. 2— 



Acid phosphate 1 .0(i5 pounds 



Dried blood, high grade 500 pounds 



Nitrate of soda 125 pounds 



Sulphate of potash, high grade 310 pounds 



2.000 pounds 



