COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS IN HORTICULTURE. 167 



methods, the adoption of either of which would iu my judgment 

 constitute a progressive step. 



First. Home mixing of chemicals. 



Second. An order to a manufacturer iu whom you have entire 

 confidence, for a mixture of chemicals which you shall specify. 

 Either of these methods gives an opportunity to select materials, 

 the quality of which is known, with a good degree of assurance. 

 Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia may be adulterated, but 

 "when taken in an unmixed condition, the value and extent of the 

 adulterations are easily detected. Dried blood and dried and 

 ground meat, each possesses a somewhat characteristic appear- 

 ance, an important variation from which attracts attention. Tank- 

 age, to be sure, may, if purchased, still give an opportunity for 

 deception, but if it can be inspected as such, the presence of wool 

 and hair waste and leather are much more easily discovered, than 

 when mixed with the larger bulk of phosphatic and potash mate- 

 rials, associated with it in mixed fertilizers. 



The nature of phosphoric acid compounds may also be known 

 "when purchased as a plain superphosphate. Dissolved bone 

 black and acid phosphates are easily recognizable by their 

 physical appearance, but if not, chemistry is perfectly competent 

 to determine whether they contain any compounds of questionable 

 value. In fact, when a plain superphosphate is bought on a 

 guarantee there is very little reason to expect any deception as to 

 the amount and quality of the phosphoric acid obtained. Cer- 

 tainly in this way it is possible to avoid the unwitting nse of these 

 phosphates of iron and alumina of which I have made previous 

 mention, and which we must now regard as undesirable for use in 

 forcing the growth of vegetables. 



I urge upon the horticulturist then, some method of buying his 

 plant food that will allow him to select it with reference to. its 

 quality. Why shall he not do this? The dairyman is very 

 particular about the quality of his animal foods, and why should 

 not the plant feeder be equally careful. Fertilizers cost more per 

 ton than bran or meal, and a season's opportunity in vegetable 

 production is worth as much as cows, milk, and butter. You 

 cannot deceive the plant any more than you can the cow. The 

 cow and plant alike refuse to yield generous returns without 

 proper nourishment, and so I am unable to understand why plant 

 food should not be obtained in ways that admit of the same close 

 inspection of materials as is the case in the cattle food trade. 



