F pfants remem bered that " (1) When certain materials are 



mixed chemical changes take place which result in loss 



2 4 of a valuable constituent, as when lime is mixed with 

 guano, Nitrogen escapes ; or in a change of a constituent 

 to a less available form, as when lime is mixed with super- 

 phosphates, the phosphoric acid is made less soluble; 

 and (2), mixtures of certain materials, as, for example, 

 potash salts and Thomas Slag, are likely to harden or 

 * cake,' and thus become difficult to handle if kept some 

 time after mixing." 



Potash salts may be mixed with Thomas phosphate 

 powder, but acid phosphate should not be mixed with 

 quick lime, nor sulphate of ammonia with basic slag. 



The modern farmer in America is beginning to 

 understand the nature of straight fertilizers as well as 

 the farmer in Germany. He knows fairly w r ell the 

 character and qualities of the materials now used in 

 mixing fertilizers; and can thus form his own judgment 

 as to what is best for the different crops and soils. 



It is better to spread fertilizers broadcast by 

 hand, or by a top-dressing machine; fertilizer drills, 

 as a rule, are not of sufficient capacity. Broadcasting is 

 always a more thorough method of applying fertilizers, 

 as it gives the following crops a better opportunity to 

 utilize all the material and prevents too much concentra- 

 tion of plant food by the plants. It also gives a better 

 root development, since the plants are compelled to 

 utilize a larger feeding area to no disadvantage, since 

 it is nature's way. 



It is generally better to harrow in fertilizers after 

 they are applied, except on the seeded crops or on sod 

 lands. 



Calculations for Mixing Fertilizers. 



As an example of how the proportions of the differ- 

 ent ingredients in a mixture may be calculated, let it be 

 assumed that a farmer wishes to prepare a 4-8-6 potato 

 fertilizer out of Nitrate of Soda containing 15 per cent, 

 of Nitrogen; acid phosphate containing 16 per cent, of 

 available phosphoric acid and sulphate of potash con- 

 taining 50 per cent, of actual potash. Remembering 



