70 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



we have a ton which' contains about four per cent of available- 

 nitrogen, nine per cent of available phosphoric acid, and seven 

 and a half per cent of potash (KoO) ; cost us $24, is worth 

 f 27.90, and the equal of a fertilizer sold by manufacturers at 

 about $40 per ton. Professor E. B. Voorhees, director of the 

 New Jersey !*<tation, suggests the following formula for garden 

 crops, viz. : 



Nitrate of soda 200 lbs. 



Dried blood . 



Tankage 



Acid phosphate . 



Muriate of potash 



Total 2,000 lbs. 



This mixture will analyze about three and a half per cent of 

 nitrogen, eight per cent of phosphoric acid, and ten per cent of 

 potash. In cost and value it is not materially different from the 

 other. 



Applying Plant Foods. — Some gardeners may fear the labor 

 of mixing. But why mix these ingredients at all ? Nitrate of 

 soda and muriate of potash are as easily sown over the ground, 

 broadcast, as wheat. Acid phosphate can be slightly moistened 

 by sprinkling and working over on a tight barn floor, or in a 

 wagon box, and then applied by hand. When we have a chance 

 to effect a saving in cost of from $12 to $16 per ton, we can well 

 afford to expend a little extra labor in application. My practice 

 is to sow each ingredient alone, taking pains to distribute the 

 proper amount. 



Direct Dealings. — A prolific source of loss to us has been our 

 carelessness in selling to irresponsible buyers, and in consigning 

 products to commission merchants. For us here, the only safe 

 way .seems to be to deal directly with consumers, and in rarer 

 cases with retailing grocers, for cash only. If we have superior 

 vegetables, we can usually find private buyers willing to give a 

 fair price. Our grocery stores are not satisfied with reasonable 

 profits. Just at this time they are unwilling to pay to the 

 grower more than from 25 cents to 30 cents a dozen for the very 

 choicest of hothouse lettiice, while they are unwilling to sell the 

 same at less than 10 cents a head. The- only thing we can do is 

 to hunt up consumers ourselves. Our way to treat commission 



