HOME-MIXING OF FERTILIZERS 



When limestone or similar material is used merely 

 to add weight, reducing the value per ton, the 

 practice is reprehensible. The extent of this 

 practice is less than many suppose, preference 

 being given to the use of low-grade materials in 

 making very low-priced fertilizers. 



A legitimate use of filler is to give good physi- 

 cal condition to a fertilizer. Some materials, 

 such as nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, 

 take up moisture and then become hard. The 

 addition of peat or limestone or other absorbent 

 is necessary to keep the mass in condition for 

 drilling. The use of some steamed animal bone 

 or high-grade tankage in the mixture helps to pre- 

 vent caking. The home-mixer can use a drier 

 without loss, as he does not pay freight upon it. 

 Dry road dust will serve his purpose. His need 

 of a drier may be greater than that of the manu- 

 facturer, as he probably will use only high-grade 

 unmixed materials. If the use of the home- 

 mixture is immediate, no drier to prevent caking 

 is needed, but its presence facilitates drilling. 

 Storage of unmixed materials in a dry place is 

 an aid in maintaining good condition. 



Ingredients in the Mixture. The matters 

 of interest to the farmer are the determination of 



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