174 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Ware expressed his delight that the essa3ist had given sa 

 outspoken a talk upon commercial fertilizers. Public speakers 

 generally seem to be a little delicate about speaking their mind 

 on this subject, ©ut of regard for the feelings of manufacturers^ 

 The milkman who is wise supplies his cows with well balanced 

 rations. All cultivated crops, to make the best growth, require 

 well balanced rations as much as cattle. The soil of Massachu- 

 setts is generally deficient in potash, but the manufacturers of 

 commercial fertilizers persist in putting on the market compounds 

 that are made up of materials in wrong proportions — too much 

 phosphoric acid and too little potash. Why should not our 

 farmers and horticulturists purchase the ingredients which are 

 needed in their soils and mix them on their own premises, in the 

 proportions required in each case? All the conveniences neces- 

 sary for this work are a barn-floor, a shovel, and a man ; and 

 proper mixing can be done for fifty cents per ton. Last 3'ear the 

 speaker purchased his own selection of ingredients for what would 

 be equivalent to ten tons of mixed fertilizers of which the price 

 was forty dollars per ton ; but he paid only about one-half the 

 cost of so-called complete fertilizers. By following this plan one 

 gets what he needs with no useless surplus, and will save at least 

 one-third of the cost of an unknown mixture. In the paper read 

 here today. Professor Jordan has touched upon one of the most 

 important subjects to all who cultivate the soil ; he has spoken 

 the truth, openly and fearlessly, and it has been a great satisfac- 

 tion to hear him state the facts. 



Professor Jordan thunked Mr. Ware for so heartily indorsing 

 his statements. He then said he wished to leave upon the mind& 

 of all present, this distinct impression : he would have a method 

 of mixing fertilizing compounds with special regards for the 

 needs of the different localities where they were to be used. If 

 cultivating wheat in Pennsylvania, he would not buy so much 

 nitrogen, because in the rotation of crops, clover would furnish 

 that. But lie would especially have regard paid to the require- 

 ments of market gardehers and forcing house men, whose soils are 

 in so artificial a condition, that the gardeners practically furnish 

 all tlie plant food their crops get or require. In such case the 

 culturist needs to know what ingredients are necessary for each 

 crop, and the relative proportions of each. He cannot find such 

 mixtures in the market. His only course then, is to buy the 



