348 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



difficulties of mixing, there are no others to be met in preparing a 

 mixed fertilizer from the chemicals. 



Whether it is desirable to mix the chemicals at home or to purchase 

 them already mixed, depends largely on whether one cares to expend 

 money or labor. The fertilizer mixed at home has these advantages; 

 it costs less, because one does not pay for the filler, nor freight on it; 

 the filler may be supplied by using dry soil ; almost any desired pro- 

 portion may be obtained; one can be sure of the quality of goods used 

 (this is most important especially of the nitrogen). The charge for 



Potash. 



Potash. 

 Pho.<;. Acid. 



Potash 

 Nitrogen. 



Nitrogen 

 Phos. Acid, Potash. 



No fertilizer. 



Fig. 344. — Mr. A. O. Stewart harvesting corn fodder for the silo. Each shock rep- 

 resents the yield from one sq. rod of each plat. 



mixing is also saved. It may have the disadvantage of not being so 

 well mixed, as the manufacturers usually have machines adapted for 

 thorough mixing. That mixed by machinery may be easier to use in 

 drills because of greater fineness and uniformity. 



When small quantities are bought the saving may not be great ; but 

 users of large amounts may well afford to do some home mixing. When 

 a sufficient amount is to be used by several in a neighborhood, the home 

 mixing may often be profitable. 



What About the Leaching of Fertilisers? 



All nitrates, as nitrate of soda, dissolve very readily in water, and 

 hence may be partly removed from the soil by leaching. 



The blood, tankage, etc., are not lost by leaching, but remain in 

 the soil and gradually undergo decay. 



