FERTILIZERS. 35 



3.' Some crops require sturdy vegetative growth, as, celery, beans, 

 peas and onions. 



4. Some crops require less nitrogen and more phosphorus which 

 must often be supplied as in wheat, corn and other grains. 



5. Briefly stated the functions performed by three of the most 

 essential elements are as follows : 



(a) Nitrogen increases the rapidity of plant growth and makes 

 the leaves dark green and lengthens the period of growth. 



(b) Phosphorus assists in starch formation and increases the 

 number of seeds and hastens maturity. 



(c) Potash strengthens the straw, increases the size of the 

 roots, and grain, and helps to give color and flavor. 



6. Asparagus, celery, onions, cabbage, and other similar plants re- 

 quire quick growth to have tenderness, and barnyard manures 

 and suitable fertilizers as supplements are required that there 

 may be plenty of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash in an 

 available form. A liberal amount of nitrogen with a medium 

 amount of phos. acid and potash is best suited for these crops. 



Read (O. A. E. S.) Cir. 79., C. E. Thorne. Wooster, O. 



Facts About Fertilizers. 



1. The farmers of the United States paid out 104 million dollars 

 for commercial fertilizers in 1909 according to a report of the 

 U. S. Census Bureau. 



2. A complete commercial fertilizer is one that contains some of 



each of the three elements, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 



3. 'Nitrogen is usually expressed in the term of the compound 

 called ammonia; 



Phosphorus is usually expressed in the term of the compound 

 called phosphoric acid; 



Potassium is usually expressed in the term of the compound 

 called potash. 



4. One of the common complete commercial fertilizers in the U. 

 S. is a 2-8-2 fertilizer; this means that in 100 pounds of this 

 fertilizer there are 2 pounds of ammonia, 8 pounds of available 

 phosphoric acid, and 2 pounds of potash. 



5. In terms of actual plant-food elements, one ton of 2-8-2 fer- 

 tilizer would contain 33 pounds of nitrogen, 80 pounds of phos- 

 phorus, and 33 pounds of potassium. 



6. One per cent ammonia equals .82 per cent nitrogen. 



A fertilizer formula is a statement showing the percentage 

 of each of the three elements, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash 

 contained in a mixed fertilizer. For example a 3-5-10 fertilizer 



