58 A MANUAL OF 



ash is largely found in ashes, and is also ob- 

 tained in large quantities for commercial use 

 from potash-rock, which is mined extensively 

 in Germany, and also in some parts of South 

 Carolina. Phosphoric acid is most readily ob- 

 tained from bones, and is the most valuable 

 constituent of the various superphosphates and 

 bone manures with which the markets are filled. 



The exact proportion of each of these ingre- 

 dients which is required for perfecting any of 

 our farm or garden crops is readily ascertained 

 by analysis. It seems, therefore, that it would 

 be an easy matter to compound a special fer- 

 tilizer which should be exactly adapted to any 

 plant or crop. And this course is strongly ad- 

 vocated by many eminent agriculturists at the 

 present day. We have not in practice gone 

 farther in this direction than to compound these 

 elements into a fertilizer which we have used 

 upon a general line of field and garden crops. 

 The use of such a fertilizer has been attended 

 with varying results upon the different crops, 

 some being particularly gratifying. 



The largest mixture of this kind which we 

 have yet used, we will give, not as a pattern for 

 others to follow, but to furnish an idea of the sub- 

 stances and proportions which we deemed ne- 



