NEW FERTILIZER MATERIALS AND BY-PRODUCTS. 179 



Picker Dirt from Cotton Mill (No. 9). — Picker dirt varies 

 somewhat in composition ; 19 analyses made at this laboratory 

 show the nitrogen to vary from 1.55 to 1.60 per cent., the potash 

 from .48 to 1.62 per cent., and the phosphoric acid from .08 

 to .68 per cent. The average commercial value on the basis of 

 these analyses would be $3.75 per ton. The product would be 

 slow in action when incorporated with the soil. Probably the 

 most economical manner of using the material would be to add 

 it at frequent intervals to the manurial matter in the manure 

 pit; when used in this way it would retain a large amount of 

 liquid manure and prove of value both as an absorbent and as 

 a direct furnisher of plant food. It would not be a suitable 

 material to use in the stable gutters on account of the dust, 

 which would have a tendency to irritate the air passages and 

 lungs of animals, and also because of the danger in carrying 

 the germs of contagious diseases. A moderate application of 

 lime should be used on the soil with this product, also about 

 400 pounds of basic slag or acid phosphate and 100 pounds 

 of high-grade sulfate of potash per acre. The material will be 

 found better adapted to corn and seeding to grass than to most 

 other crops, and may be used at the rate of three cords per acre. 

 It should be plowed in. 



Cocoa-shell Dust (No. 10). — Cocoa-shell dust carries con- 

 siderably more plant food than do ground cocoa shells, testing 

 nearly a per cent, higher in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. The 

 material may be used at the rate of 1 ton per acre. It should 

 be supplemented by an application of 100 pounds of muriate 

 of potash and 300 pounds of basic slag phosphate or acid phos- 

 phate. 



Shoddy Dirt from Woolen Mill (No. li).— Shoddy dirt 

 will be found to vary considerably in composition. It is not 

 a well-balanced fertilizing material, as it carries too little 

 potash and phosphoric acid in proportion to the nitrogen. It 

 may be used at the rate of 3 tons per acre applied broadcast 

 and thoroughly wheel -harrowed in. For corn and seeding to 

 grass 800 pounds of lime, 500 pounds of basic slag or acid 

 phosphate and 150 pounds of muriate of potash should also be 

 used per acre. On poor soils 100 pounds of nitrate of soda 

 may be used to advantage when seeding to grass. 



