28 THE .HANDBTOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



one or more elements in available form, the safest plan is to use 

 a moderate quantity of a complete high-grade fertilizer. The 

 following are some good standard combinations in percentage : 



Numbers 1 and 3 constitute good fertilizers for almost any 

 crop on a normal soil. Nmnbers 2 and 4 are relatively stronger 

 in potash for potatoes, root crops, and legumes. Number 5 is 

 especially suited for muck soil. Number 6 is especially a 

 vegetable fertilizer on normal upland soil in good condition. 



Generally, large applications of fertilizers should be thor- 

 oughly mixed with the soil rather than placed in the hill or the 

 row. Small applications are more effective when applied in 

 the rows. 



Home-mixing^ of fertilizers. — Commercial fertilizers may be 

 purchased ready-mixed or the materials may be bought and 

 mixed at home. Home-mixing is advisable for the farmer who 

 is in position to study the subject since the purchase of the 

 materials separately enables him to be sure that he is getting 

 only high-grade carriers and, furthermore, he is able to have a 

 slow or a quick acting fertilizer, as the needs of his crop may 

 demand. 



The mixing of the materials is comparatively simple. Any 

 tight floor or wagon box may be used and the only tools required 

 are shovels and a screen. The materials are weighed out and 

 spread in layers, the most bulky first, and then thoroughly shov- 

 eled over. The mix4;ure is then passed through a sand screen 

 and the lumps broken up with the back of a shovel. When large 

 quantities are to be mixed the use of a small rotary concrete 

 mixer is advised. The mixing should be continued until the 

 whole pile is fine and uniform after which it may be used at 

 once or bagged and stored in a dry place for future use. 



The following table gives the information necessary to make 

 mixtures of any desired percentage composition. To make up a 

 three-ten-four mixture using nitrate of soda, acid phosphate 



