CHAPTER XIV. 



HOME MIXTURES. 



Definitions. — When fertilizer materials such as tankage, dried 

 blood, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, superphosphate, bone 

 meal, muriate of potash, etc., are purchased and mixed at home 

 the process is called home mixing and the product a home mix- 

 ture. When these fertilizer materials are mixed by the factory 

 the product is called a fertilizer or a mixed fertilizer. Most of 

 the fertilizer materials contain either one or two constituents and 

 only a few carry, all three constituents. Most of the mixed 

 fertilizers contain three constituents, namely, nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid and potash and are called complete fertilizers because they 

 contain the three essential elements. There has been a great 

 deal of discussion as to whether fertilizer materials or mixed 

 fertilizers are the best for the consumer to purchase. 



Manufacturer's Claims. — The manufacturers claim that mixed 

 fertilizers are the best for the farmer to purchase because : 



1. The factory mixed fertilizers are in a fine mechanical con- 

 dition. The mixed fertilizers are ground fine and uniformly 

 mixed, which is indeed an important consideration to permit of 

 an even distribution on the land. 



2. The mixed fertilizers can generally be purchased in the 

 locality at most any time and in any amount. 



3. The mixed fertilizers are specially treated with acid and the 

 constituents in substances like tankage, dry ground fish, etc., are 

 made partially available. 



4. The mixed fertilizers are claimed to be made up in such 

 proportions as to satisfy the needs of crops. 



5. The manufacturers often allow the farmer some time to 

 settle and often wait until harvest time before getting their 

 money. The credit system is in vogue in the South where 

 enormous quantities of mixed fertilizers are used. 



Reasons Why the Farmer Should Mix Fertilizer Materials at 

 Home. — The mixing of fertilizer materials at home is becoming 



