No. 4.] COMMERCIAL PLANT FOOD. 65 



these potato growers to ofler for l)iiying potato nutrition 

 in these proportions? Some leading Aroostook County 

 farmers declare that the ratio is all wrong, and have con- 

 tracted with the manufacturers for very ditferent mixtures, 

 in which, in a few cases at least, potash is the leading in- 

 gredient. 



In general, why are manufacturers using the formulae 

 they do in sui)plying the general fertilizer trade ? Are they 

 imitating farm manures? Most certainly not, for in stable 

 mtinure the phosphoric acid is less than the other two 

 ingredients. Are they seeking to simulate the first of all 

 commercial fertilizing mixtures, viz., Peruvian guano? If 

 they are, they are not succeeding. Are they following the 

 average composition of farm crops ? Very far from it. 

 Are they depending upon any well-defined data of acknowl- 

 edged value in deciding what mixtures of plant food shall 

 be ofl'ered to the agricultural public? We cannot learn 

 that they are, except in a limited number of instances. 

 We are all agreed that muriate of potash shall ])e kept out 

 of tobacco fertilizers, that the seeding-down fertilizers may 

 properly contain compounds of lower availability than 

 those intended for use on hoed crops ; but, beyond a few 

 instances of this kind, we are unal)le to learn that the great 

 bulk of the fertilizer trade is guided by a definite, intelli- 

 gent demand on the part of the buyers. 



In the absence of such a demand, what shall the manu- 

 facturer do ? It is not likely that he will be controlled by 

 the business conditions which chiefly influence his side of 

 the transaction, such as the relative supply and cost of 

 materials, methods of cheapening production, nature of the 

 competition that piust be met, etc. Many new firms are 

 yearly entering upon the business of selling plant food, — 

 men of good business ability, of undoubted integrity, who 

 as a rule know nothing of plant nutrition, but who would 

 be perfectly willing to supply farmers with what they want, 

 provided they could find out Avhat that is. Not having this 

 information, they enter upon a plan which })romises them 

 the maximum profit, and which, for the farmer, is a most 

 haphazard operation. 



Allow me to say to you that, in my judgment, the fact 



