6 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



It is not claimed that all fanners would find it profitable to mix 

 their own fertilizers from chemicals, but it is believed that there 

 are many farmers in the State so situated with reference to 

 markets and transportation that they could buy and mix chemicals 

 with profit. This could be better done, perhaps, by an association 

 of farmers, so tbat by the purchase and transportation of large lots 

 at one time, a saving could be made in prices and freights. 



If any farmer or association of farmers is disposed to give this 

 matter a trial, the Station will advise, whenever desired, as to the 

 proper selection of materials, formulas for mixing, etc. 



THE ACCOMPANYING TABLES SHOWING ANALYSES AND VALUATIONS. 



The talular statements, which are made in this connection, give 

 the composition and approximate money value of the fertilizers 

 sampled. The tables on the left hand pages show the histor}'^ of 

 the samples, and those on the right hand pages, the results of the 

 laboratory examinations. 



Four of the columns of figures it is especially important to 

 notice, viz., those giving the percentages of nitrogen, available 

 2j1wsplioric acid, audi potash, and the station valuation. In the case 

 of those brands for which the manufacturers claim especial A\alue 

 as "seeding down" fertilizers the amount of insoluble j^hosjjJioric 

 acid is generally so large as also to be a matter of importance. 



It is to be noticed that the guarantees and selling prices are not 

 mentioned as has been the case in previous reports of the Station. 

 These are omitted ia this report for several reasons : 



1. It is desirable to make the tables of analyses as simple and 

 as easy to consult as possible. 



2. Not what a fertilizer is guaranted to contain, but what it 

 actually does contain is the matter of chief importance to the 

 farmer, and the latter rather than the former is what the station 

 analyses show. Besides, the guarantees which manufacturers 

 print have such wide limits in many cases as to detract somewhat 

 from their value as a guide to purchasers. 



3. Selling prices vary greatly in different localities. Those of 

 bis own, and not of other localities, are what concern the 

 purchaser, and if he consults the Station valuations at all it is to 

 compare them with the prices which are actual^ quoted to him. 

 If the price of a particular fertilizer was uniform throughout the 

 State its comparison with the valuation might be made in the 

 Station report once for all, but a comparison for Bangor may have 

 no value for some point in Aroostook Co. 



