Food for (^) To convert potash to an equivalent per cent, of mu- 



8 riate (chloride) of potash, multiply the per cent, of actual 



potash by 1.585. 



We now have the data for estimating the commercial 

 values of fertilizers from the guarantee-analyses as usually 

 published by manufacturers. We may in a few moments cal- 

 culate the comparative commercial values of different trade- 

 brands, and be governed in buying by their actual commer- 

 cial values and by the requirements of our soil and the crops 

 to be grown. Or, if we have an eye to saving from twenty 

 to thirty per cent, by mixing our own fertilizers during the 

 idle winter months, when we can usually buy agricultural 

 chemicals cheaper than at any other season of the year, we 

 can now proceed intelligently and prepare chemical manures 

 containing just such percentages of Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, 

 and potash, as soil and crop requirements demand. 



We ascertain the cheapest source of raw materials, esti- 

 mate our wants and buy for cash on guaranteed analyses. Or, 

 better still, by cooperating with several other farmers we pur- 

 chase, at wholesale, sufficient raw materials for our combined 

 use. With a few hoes and shovels, a good-sized ash sieve, 

 and an even barn floor we are ready for work. 



We proceed to spread the weighed raw 

 Mixing Raw materials in thin layers on the barn floor, 

 Materials. building them layer upon layer to a height 



convenient for easy manipulation; then intimately mix with 

 hoes by working the piles over from the outward edge inward, 

 pass the mixed materials through the sieve, and having 

 secured an even admixture, store the finished materials away 

 in bags or barrels until needed for use. 



Examples. We want a complete high-grade fertilizer 

 for general use, and decide it shall contain from 4 to 5 per 

 cent, of Nitrogen, 8 to 9 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and 

 from 6 to 7 per cent, of potash. In making an approximate 

 estimate of our wants we will take the higher numbers given. 

 Then for one ton we want Nitrogen 5 per cent, (or 5 

 pounds in each 100 pounds of fertilizer) X 2O = l pounds, 

 phosphoric acid (available) 9 per cent.X 2O = I 8o pounds, 

 and potash 7 per cent.X 2 = I 4 pounds. 



Trustworthy tables of analyses have, of course, been care- 

 fully consulted before purchasing and our raw materials 

 have been bought upon guaranteed analyses, are of good 



