AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 5 



The valuation of a fertilizer is obtained by multiplying the 

 percentages of the several ingredients by twenty (which gives the 

 pounds per ton), and these products by the prices per pound, and 

 the sum of the several final products is the market value of the 

 fertilizing ingredients in one ton. For instance the "station 

 valuation" of the Allen Fertilizer No. 487 is obtained as follows : 



2.17 per cent. Nitroo^en equal 43.4 lbs. per ton @ lOcts $8.25 



4.64 '' Sol. phos. acid ^' 92.8 " " " @ Sets 7.42 



1.72 " Rev. '' " " 34.4 " " " @ 7icts 2.58 



2.29 " Insol. " '• '' 45.8 '• '' " @ 3cts 1.37 



5.00 " Potash " 100.0 " '• •' @ 4kts 4.50 



Vakiation $24.12 



CHARACTER OF THE FERTILIZERS SOLD IN MAINE. 



Reference to the accompanying tables of analysis shows that 

 the fertilizer trade in this State is confined almost entirely to 

 nitrogenous superphosphates, i. e., fertilizers containing nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid and potash, the phosphoric acid being rendered 

 largely available througli the use of sulphuric acid. A few brands 

 are sold, which are especially recommended as seeding down 

 fertilizers, in which quite a large proportion of the phosphoric acid 

 is combined in the raw or insoluble forms. It is worthy of 

 remark that the commercial fertilizers sold in this State are in 

 general of good quality and worthy the confidence of consumers. 



HOME-MIXED FERTILIZERS. 



The mixing of fertilizers on the farm through the use of 

 chemicals and raw materials does not seem to have been under- 

 taken to any extent by Maine farmers, although it is clearly 

 shown that intelligent farmers of other states, Connecticut for 

 instance, are finding it profitable to adopt this method of obtain- 

 ing commercial manures. During the years 1887 and 1888 the 

 Connecticut Experiment Station examined twenty-one fertilizers 

 mixed by farmers from chemicals purchased by themselves, and 

 the analyses show : 



1. These home mixtures compared favorably in composition 

 with the best factory made fertilizers. 



2. The home mixtures had a satisfactory mechanical condition. 



3. The ingredients of the home mixtures cost the consumers 

 on an average from 20-25 per cent, less than if purchased in 

 factory made fertilizers, after allowing $3.00 per ton for cost of 

 mixing. 



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