PURCHASING PLANT-FOOD 



ers, and is not a method that may have general 

 adoption. 



The organic sources of fertility, such as slaugh- 

 ter-house refuse, are containers of plant-food as 

 surely as is stable manure. The inorganic sources, 

 such as acid phosphate and muriate of potash, are 

 containers of plant-food as surely as is animal bone 

 or blood. There is no line that may be drawn to 

 debar any substance that supplies plant-food 

 profitably and contains no compound harmful to 

 the soil. 



The purchase of plant-food should begin when- 

 ever profit is offered by it, and in connection with 

 its use there should be good tillage, organic matter, 

 and healthful plant conditions in every respect. 

 The use of a fertilizer pays best when the condi- 

 tions are such that the plants can avail themselves 

 of it in the fullest degree. Good farming and the 

 heavy use of commercial fertilizers go consist- 

 ently hand in hand. 



Fertilizer Control. The dreams of the patent- 

 medicine vender never pictured more favoring 

 conditions for his activity than were found by fer- 

 tilizer manufacturers and agents before state laws 

 provided for inspection and control. Men who 

 wanted to do a legitimate business welcomed 



[189] 



