246 HANDY-BOOK OP HUSBANDRY. 



material required in this domestic manufacture will be somewhat 

 expensive, and the process more or less troublesome ; while there 

 is no doubt that, except in the most remote regions, good super- 

 phosphate may be procured at a cost, delivered on the farm, that 

 will be amply justified by the result of its application to the crops. 

 In purchasing, however, a farmer runs a considerable risk of 

 being swindled ; for nothing is easier than to add to any commer- 

 cial fertilizer such an amount of sand, sifted ashes, or other 

 worthless material, as will very much reduce its value. Still, 

 even the most unscrupulous dealer in fertilizers will probably 

 have the wit to supply a genuine article to any customer whom 

 it seems unsafe to cheat ; and if the farmer will purchase directly 

 from the manufacturer, and with the stipulation that every pack- 

 age of the fertilizer shall analyze up to a given standard, the 

 chances are that the adulterated article will be reserved for 

 shipment to some other person ; and I am confident at the same 

 time that there are manufacturers who conduct their business on 

 strictly honest principles, and who will always send a genuine 

 article. 



The superphosphates of lime which are sold in the American 

 market, contain, generally, a considerable proportion of ammonia, 

 which adds to their value for use in connection with the stable 

 manure of the farm ; but probably, where there is an abundant 

 supply of stable manure, it would be cheapest to invest the whole 

 amount of purchase-money in the mineral matters, as it is these 

 which it is, beyond all question, the most important to procure 

 from external sources. 



Concerning the method of application of superphosphate of 

 lime, two opinions prevail. One is, that it is better to spread it, 

 if possible, with the use of a broadcast sower evenly over the 

 whole surface of the land, so that no part of the soil may fail 

 to receive a certain amount. And the other is, that it is pref- 

 erable to compost it with stable manure, which, undoubtedly, ' 

 adds to its efficiency, but is subject to the objection that as stable 

 manure is always more or less lumpy, and is necessarily spread by 

 hand, its distribution when applied in the field is less uniform than 



