The Bulletin. 89 



ingredients for iiialving up tlie complete fertilizer, nnnielj-, acid phosphate, 

 cotton-seed meal, and kainit, then we wonder if we cannot use other ingre- 

 dients that will supply the same plant foods cheaper. 



It is a well-known fact that there are ten elements of plant food that are 

 ahsolutely necessary for the plant to produce its proper functions. The plant 

 usually tinds all of these surrounding it. hut there are from one to four of 

 these that may he present in an availahle form, but is deficient in suHicient 

 quantity to supply all the crop needs. These are phosphoric acid, nitrogen, 

 potash, and perhaps sometimes calcium. The three that we usually consider 

 are the lirst name<l, while the last is usually supplied in the form of lime. 



Each of these plant foods has an important function. Phosphoric acid has 

 the tendency to hasten maturity and stimulate fruiting. Nitrogen produces 

 heavy stalk and foliage and the green color. Potash has an inclination to 

 delay maturity, to hold the green color later and to make the fruit heavier. 



On some soils one or more of these elements seem to have no beneficial 

 effect ; on others they even appear to be injurious. Again, we have some 

 soils where two elements when applied separately seem to have no effect, 

 while when combined they are beneficial. For instance, in some of our experi- 

 ments we found, where we had a series of rows with acid phosphate and 

 another with potash, having a blank row between, that the plats of acid phos- 

 phate and potash did not produce as much as similar plats where no fertilizer 

 was applied, and yet the single blank row between the plats had a heavy yield. 

 This was doubtless due to the fact that the roots fed from the two fertilizers 

 which were applied in the adjacent rows. 



This causes us to wonder why more of us had not known this all these years. 

 It also causes us to realize that different types of soils must in many cases be 

 fertilized differently. 



This brings the subject to the point where the importance of home mixing 

 can best be emphasized. From the above may be gathered the reasoning that 

 soils may or may not need complete fertilization. If this be true, and that 

 we may have a soil that does not need complete fertilization, why should we 

 use an expensive ingredient for no benefit? Suppose, for instance, that indi- 

 cations pointed to phosphoric acid doing no good. When we consider that all 

 8 per cent phosphoric acid goods, such as S-2-2. 8-3-3, and 8-4-4, are half acid 

 phosphate, then can one doubt the wisdom of leaving it out and saving con- 

 siderable unnecessary expense? 



The second problem we considered was relative to using different materials 

 for supplying the same plant food. Here is a list of some materials which 

 may be used as fertilizer ingredients: 



Phosphoric Acid. Nitrogen. Potash. 



Acid phosphate. 16%. Cotton-seed meal, 7^^%. Kainit, 1214%. 

 Basic slag, 19%. Blood, 10-14%. Muriate of potash, 50%. 



Ground bone. Nitrate soda, 15%%. Sulphate of potash, 50%. 



Ground phosphate rock. Am. sulphate, 20%. 



Tankage. 6-9%. 



Fish scrap, 8%. 



From this list one may see that instead of being limited to one carrier for 

 each plant food, there are several which may be used. Here again an explana- 

 tion may be timely. It is a fact that certain kinds of fertilizing ingredients 

 are usually best suited to certain crops, each having a slightly different effect 

 on the crop, although at the same time it may be supplying the same element of 

 plant food. In fact, the fertilization of the soil is a deep problem, but it is 

 time we farmers should do away with the idea that we cannot dig into difficult 

 subjects, especially when those problems have the relation to our occupation 

 that commercial fertilizers have. It takes time, study, and application to 

 master any problem. This emphasizes the point that we must do in.vestiga- 

 tion for ourselves. Of course, this is going to require a little time and study, 

 as well as expense, but compared with the valuable information and relief 

 of mind, through overcoming unknown problems, what are a few measly dol- 

 lars? And. again, consider what returns the application of such information 



