MANURES AND FERTILIZING MATERIALS. 71 



The total pounds of fertilizers required are only 

 1,436 Ibs. In order to satisfy the formula namely, 8 

 per cent, available phosphoric acid, 1.65 per cent ni- 

 trogen and 2 per cent, potash, some material has to 

 be added to make the total weight 2,000 Ibs. The 

 calculations were figured on a ton basis, and if we do 

 not add material to make 2,000 Ibs. the fertilizer will 

 contain more than 8 per cent, available phosphoric 

 acid, 1.65 per cent, nitrogen and 2 per cent, potash. 

 The farmer can add soil or sand to make the total 

 weight 2,000 Ibs. In this case 2,000 1,436 = 564 

 Ibs. the amount of soil necessary to add to make 2,000 

 Ibs. 



Fillers. When the manufacturer of fertilizers 

 makes a fertilizer of the above composition, out of 

 the same materials, he is forced to add some make 

 weight substance such as sand or cinders, to make the 

 total weight 2,000 Ibs. This make-weight substance 

 is called the filler. In the general meaning of the 

 term, a filler is spoken of as something added to a 

 fertilizer to make weight. 



Cost of the Fertilizer. Let us find out the cost of 

 the above fertilizer when acid phosphate sells for $14 

 per ton, nitrate of soda for $50 per ton and muriate 

 of potash for $40 per ton. 



Acid phosphate at $14 per ton costs $.007 per Ib. 



Nitrate of soda at $50 per ton costs $.025 per Ib. 



Muriate of potash at $40 per ton costs $.020 per Ib. 

 Then:- 



1 143 (the number of Ibs. of acid phosphate required) x $ . 007 = $8 . ooi 



213 (the number of Ibs. of nitrate of soda required) x .025 = 5.325 



80 (number of Ibs. of muriate of potash required) x .020 = 1 .600 



1436 Ibs. total. Cost $14.926 



If the manufacturer's price for a fertilizer of this 

 composition, namely, 8 per cent, available phosphoric 

 acid, 1.65 per cent, nitrogen and 2 per cent, potash, is 

 $20 per ton, it would be a paying proposition to buy 

 the raw materials and mix them at home. 



