FERTILIZERS AND AGRICULTURAL LIME 15 



However, some of these small package fertilizers are advertised for use on out- 

 side gardens as well. In such instances the cost of the fertilizer may amount to a 

 sum considerable enough to justify examination of the fertilizer value that the 

 gardener is getting for his money. 



So far as the nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, potash, calcium, and mag- 

 nesium are concerned, it should be noted that these elements, if present as guar- 

 anteed, are just as effective for plant growth in one fertilizer as they are in another, 

 regardless of the glowing terms to describe the special efficacy of these elements in 

 some products. As for the trace minerals, vitamins, and other special ingredients 

 sometimes claimed to be present, the amount of these in any fertilizer is so small 

 that their cost should not be used as an excuse for a considerably higher price than 

 that charged for another fertilizer without such claims. It should be remembered 

 that the regular farm fertilizers supply all the plant food elements needed to grow 

 good crops in soil. 



The largest tonnage of fertilizer sold in Massachusetts during 1952 was the 

 5-10-10 grade. The average price was approximately $60.00 per ton. Since the 

 combined percentages of nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and potash present in 

 this grade total 25, the fertilizer contains 500 pounds of guaranteed plant food per 

 ton. It also contains large amounts of calcium and sulfur, moderate amounts of 

 magnesium, iron, and aluminum, and trace amounts of copper, zinc, boron, man- 

 ganese, and many other elements. Considering only the 500 pounds of plant food 

 guaranteed and the ton cost of .f 60.00, we arrive at a figure of 12 cents per pound 

 of plant food. 



Bearing in mind all the preceding information, the gardener should find the 

 following table of some help. The reader is left to judge for himself whether any 

 costs given are too high. The fertilizer Control Service has no jurisdiction over fer- 

 tilizer prices. The cost per pound of plant food was calculated in the same manner 

 as the cost for the 5-10-10 grade mentioned above. 



