88 CROP GROWING AND CROP FEEDING 



Now all this means that the article has in it, if the analysis is correct, 

 nitrogen 1.73 per cent., available phosphoric acid 7.40 per cent, and potash 

 2.15 per cent. All the rest is put there to make the farmer think there is 

 a great deal in it, while it is, in fact, a very low grade fertilizer. The "organic 

 matter, etc.," is probably "filler" put in to make bulk. This is but a single 

 sample of thousands of similar "analyses" on fertilizer sacks all over this 

 country. The manufacturer who cannot state just what his article contains 

 must be a poor manufacturer, or puts the sliding scale there to crawl out on. 

 If you see a sliding scale of percentage you may be sure that the lowest 

 figure comes nearest to what is the actual per cent. .But there is a great 

 deal less of actual swindling in fertilizers since the laws for the inspection 

 have been adopted in nearly all the States, and the farmer dealing with 

 firms of reputation can usually depend on getting what he orders. The 

 great objection to the ready mixed goods is not their quality, but the fact 

 that they are sold at too high a price, as is evident from the fact that buyers 

 at retail can get the same plant-foods for less money. Bulletin No. 139 of 

 the New Jersey Station, says in regard to home mixing of fertilizers : "Home 

 mixing has been carried on with entire satisfaction by a number of farmers 

 for several years. The Station has encouraged these efforts as of value to 

 the individuals themselves and an object lesson to their neighbors, since it 

 renders them familiar with the kinds and forms of plant-food, teaches them 

 to think of pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, rather than tons 

 of a particular phosphate, and in general unfolds the mystery which envel- 

 opes the make-up of fertilizers in the minds of many." 



Bulletin No. 53 of the Maine Station well says : "That which transcends 

 everything else in the purchase of fertilizers is to know what you want and 

 then get it get it as cheap as you can and still get the plant food needed. 

 No one would think of buying salt for sugar because it can be obtained at 

 a lower price, but the writer has knowledge of the purchase of nitrogen when 

 potash was needed, simply because the trade value of a nitrogenous fertilizer 

 as printed exceeded its selling price." 



In Bulletin No. 132 of the New Jersey Station, a number of analyses 

 are given of fertilizers mixed by farmers for their own use, and the results 

 show that the proportions of the different constituents was as well main- 

 tainded as in the manufactured goods. "As a method of economical pur- 

 chase of fertilizers, either mixing them at home, or having them especially 

 compounded at the factory, seems to be equally recommended by the experi- 

 ence here reported. This opportunity of saving in the purchase of fertilizers 

 is open to all who will study their crops and soils, learn what they need, and 

 secure it by the more business-like method. It is a combination of com- 



