FERTILIZERS. 



707 



"Ninety-six of tlio 224 brands, or 43 per cent, contained less phosphoric acid than 

 was guaranteed; 27 brands contained less potash, and 20 less nitrogen. In the case 

 of uitrogeu particularly, the actual amount contained was in many cases greatly in 

 excess of the guaranty. 



" The chief difticulty in respect to keeping the guaranty was in the case of phos- 

 phoric acid. 



" The average composition, selling price, and commercial valuation per ton of all 

 the brands of mixed fertilizers examined in 1891, 1892, 1893, and 1894, as well as the 

 percentage diffei'ence between valuation and selling price, or the charges for mixing, 

 bagging, and selling, are shown in the following t.abulation; 



Average cumposition, selling price, and valuation of fertilizers. 



"At the average cost per pound of the uitrogeu, phosiihoric acid, and potash in 

 these fertilizers it would cost the farmer 36 cts. to return to the soil the fertilizing 

 ingredients carried off in every bushel of wheat sold, 28 cts. to return the amount 

 contained in a btishcl of corn, 30 cts. to return that contained in a bushel of rye, 18 

 cts. for thatcontained iu abushel of oats, and $7.16 to return the fertilizer constittieuts 

 removed iia a ton of timothy hay. . . . 



"It is clear that at these prices for plant food a very narrow margin is left to the 

 farmer in the sale of crops for legitimate charges for labor of growing, hauliug, 

 selling, and other exiienses." 



Still it is maiutained that the use of fertilizers is profitable, even 

 under these conditions. It is recommended, however, to (1) reduce cost 

 of plant food in mixed fertilizers by buying on the "unit"* basis; (2) 

 limit exportation of fertilizing constituents from farms on which stock 

 is kept "by a judicious exchange of grain and hay for concentrated 

 feeds rich in the fertilizing constituents, coupled Avith careful saving 

 and intelligent api)lication of the manure made;" and (3) reduce the 

 outlay for the expensive element nitrogen "by sowing larger areas of 

 leguminous crops which gather nitrogen from the air." Crimson 

 clover is considered esijecially valuable for this purpose. 



"The samples of ground bone examined this year, on the whole, reached their 

 guaranty, showed a good degree of fineness, and, with few exceptions, a relatively 

 high valuation. A larger number than usual, however, belonged to the class 

 'steamed bone.' . . . 



" The number of samples of wood ashes examined this year was somewhat larger 

 than usual, and they showed the usual wide variation in composition. . . . With 

 but one or two exceptions the prices charged for the plant-food constituents were 

 excessive." 



Fertilizing with phosphoric acid as a means of producing cheap 

 nitrogen, P. Wagner {Beut. landiv. Presse, 22 {1895), No. J, pp. 5, <?, 

 ji(is. 3). — Pot exijeriments with fertilizers on oats, peas, and vetches are 



1 One per cent per ton or 20 lbs. 



