IIOMli: MIXTURES 127 



more popular among- the farmers. Some of the reasons why the 

 farmer should mix his own fertilizer materials follow : 



1. Plant food is obtained at a lower price. 



2. The farmer knows the materials used. 



3. L^nnecessary constituents arc not purchased. 

 Mechanical Condition of Factory and Home Mixed Fertilizers. — 



The factory mixed fertilizers are usually much better mixed than 

 those that are mixed at home. Fertilizer factories are well 

 equipped with special machinery to insure producing a uni- 

 form product that may easily be distributed on the farm. How- 

 ever, the careful farmer may mix his fertilizer materials uniformly 

 enough for all practical purposes. 



Mixed Fertilizers More Easily Purchased. — Mixed fertilizers 

 can generally be purchased in the locality and the raw materials 

 must be ordered away from home which of course takes some 

 time. Sometimes certain raw materials are hard to obtain. If 

 the farmer starts early enough, say in the winter, the raw 

 materials can generally be obtained. 



Mixed Fertilizers Compounded for the Needs of the Crop. — When 

 a manufacturer makes up his formulas he has to allow for the 

 general existing conditions of soil, climate, and needs of the 

 crop, and he cannot expect to make a particular brand that will 

 suit each farmer's requirements. When he makes up a potato 

 brand he must make a mixture that will suit most of the farmers 

 growing potatoes and he cannot expect to meet every condition 

 of soil. 



Manufacturers Often Allow Credit. — On the whole, the credit 

 system is a poor system for the farmer, for when his crop is 

 made he may or may not be ahead financially. Those that live on 

 the credit system are usually a year behind and two or three 

 poor crops results in the loss of the farm. The manufacturers, 

 however, are often too lenient in selling their mixed fertilizers 

 on the credit basis as they often have large losses which take 

 away much of their profit. 



Plant Food is Obtained at a Lower Price in Home Mixtures, — 

 The work of the Experiment Stations has j)roved conclusively 



