EXPERIMENT STATION. 35 



above sample contains these bodies in much larger quantities, 

 corresponding to about 13 per cent, of sulphate of soda and 11 

 per cent, of common salt. The presumption is therefore very 

 strong that these cheap chemicals are now used to " extend " or 

 adulterate the Guano. 



The three "Mapes' Complete Manures" are distinct brands 

 claiming different composition and selling by the manufacturers 

 at different prices. Two of them are also included among the 

 special manures, p. 36. 



The average cost of these fertilizers, |43, exceeds the average 

 estimated value, (-$39.00), by $4.00 in round numbers. Last year 

 the average cost of 21 samples was $39, and the average estimated 

 value $36. Purchasers of Mitchell's Standard Phosphate have 

 been paying a standard price for a very poor article, if sample 

 561 fairly represents the brand. 



Special Fertilizers or Formulas. 



Of this class 26 samples have been analyzed. Two of these, 

 viz: 593 and 594, have been also included among superphos- 

 phates, etc. A single one of all these samples has an estimated 

 value far above its cost. The cost of a dozen of them comes 

 within $4.00 of estimated value. The cost of the remaining 13 

 exceeds estimated value from $4.50 to $22. 



There are very good reasons why the individual farmer should 

 endeavor to adapt manures to his special crops. Where large 

 tracts of !and of uniform quality have been cropped and handled 

 alike for year- there is propriety in trying to compose a fertilizer 

 specially applicable to that land or to different classes of crops on 

 it ; but for the farmers of Connecticut at large, whose crops and 

 soils are as diverse in their needs as well can be, to suppose that 

 it is possible to make fertilizers that have any universal adaptation 

 to different crops is downright nonsense. That the " formulas " 

 now offered to farmers are the roughest guess-work is capitally 

 illustrated by the table on page 38. There it is seen, by com- 

 paring "the highest and lowest per cent.," that the four brands of 

 " Corn Manure" that have been in the Connecticut market, range 

 in content of nitrogen from 3.6 to 6.2 per cent., in "available" 

 phosphoric acid from 2. to 11.4 per cent., and in potash from 4.6 to 

 14.6 per cent. Greater variety is found in the five kinds of 



