HOME MIXED FERTILIZERS. 1 39 



HOW TO MIX CHEMICALS FOR USE. 



After the formula has been decided upon, and the chemicals 

 purchased, the mixing is readily attended to in accordance with 

 the following or some similar way. 



The apparatus needed consists of: Tight floor; platform 

 scales; shovel with square point; an iron hand rake, and a sand 

 screen with 3 meshes to the inch ( frame about 4^ ft. by 1 Y / 2 ) . 



Screen all the materials. Pulverize all lumps and pass 

 through the screen before adding to the pile. Nitrate of soda 

 is apt to be lumpy. If emptied out, slightly moistened and 

 allowed to stand over night, the lumps will fall apart on raking. 

 When practicable the nitrate should be reground at time of pur- 

 chase. 



Spread the proper weight of the most bulky material on the 

 floor to a depth of six inches. Make the top level and spread the 

 proper weight of the next most bulky material on top of the first. 

 Proceed in like manner until all the different constituents have 

 been added to the pile. Shovel over the whole three or four 

 times, taking care to carry the shovel to the bottom of the pile 

 and to mix as thoroughly as possible. After the goods are mixed, 

 they can be stored in bulk or put into bags or barrels until they 

 are needed. It is usually much more economical of time for the 

 farmer to mix the chemicals he may need before the rush of 

 spring work. With well dried materials in good mechanical 

 condition, the mixed goods will keep for months if stored in a 

 dry place. It is better, however, to mix the goods as late as 

 practicable without interfering with other work. 



DEVISING FORMULAS. 



Although the selection of a formula for home mixing fertili- 

 zers, like compounding rations for stock, is a good deal more 

 than mere arithmetic, the data given in the tables on pages 135 

 and 137 are suggestive and will prove helpful. The correct use 

 of commercial fertilizers involves the supply of plant food that a 

 given soil lacks to produce a good yield of a given crop. Hence 

 to fertilize to the best advantage, the soil to be used must be 

 known. 



All soils contain much more plant food than is needed to grow 

 many crops. The larger part of this is not immediately avail- 



