THE POTATO 219 



per cent, ammonia, 6 per cent, available phos- 

 phoric acid, 10 per cent, potash, and costing $37 to 

 $39 a ton. The following materials for a home 

 mixture would duplicate the above formula: 



150 pounds nitrate soda (15 per cent, nitrogen). 

 800 " tankage (7 per cent, ammonia, 15 per cent, 

 total, 10 per cent, available phosphoric acid), 

 300 * acid phosphate (15 per cent, phosphoric acid). 

 400 " sulphate potash. 



1650 pounds (equivalent of a ton). 



"The above material can be purchased f.o.b. 

 Boston at the following prices: Nitrate of soda 

 $50 per ton, tankage $7 per ton, acid phosphate 

 $16 per ton, sulphate potash $48 per ton. 



"The cost of this mixture would be as follows: 



150 pounds nitrate soda at $50 $3.75 



800 " tankage at $27 10.80 



300 " acid phosphate at $16 2.40 



400 " sulphate potash at $48 9.60 



Cost of material f.o.b $26.55 



Labor of mixing, waste, sacking, etc 75 



Total $27.50 



"To this must be added the cost of freight. At 

 most Maine points this would not be over $2 

 to $2.50 for the above quantity. A saving then 

 of about 25 per cent, can be made by home mix- 

 ing. 



"Many Aroostook County growers have aban- 

 doned the 4-6-10 fertilizer and are now using one 

 analyzing 5 per cent, ammonia, 8 per cent, available 

 phosphoric acid, and 7 per cent, potash. 



"This sells at $41 to $42 a ton in Aroostook 



