Fertilizers 57 



home mixing 



If you look over the Experiment Station report 

 mentioned above, you will notice that what are called 

 "home mixtures" almost invariably show a higher 

 value compared to the cost than any regular brand. 

 In some cases the difference is fifty per cent. This 

 means that you can buy the raw chemicals and make 

 up your own mixtures cheaper than you can buy 

 mixed fertilizers. More than that, it means you 

 will have purer mixtures. More than that, it means 

 you will have on hand the materials for giving your 

 crops the special feeding mentioned above. The 

 idea widely prevails, thanks largely to the fertilizer 

 companies, that home mixing cannot be practically 

 done, especially upon a small scale. From both in- 

 formation and personal experience I know the 

 contrary to be the case. With a tight floor or plat- 

 form, a square-pointed shovel and a coarse wire 

 screen, there is absolutely nothing impractical about 

 it. The important thing is to see that all ingredients 

 are evenly and thoroughly mixed. A scale for 

 weighing will also be a convenience. Further in- 

 formation may be had from the firms which sell raw 

 materials, or from your Experiment Station. 



APPLYING MANURES 



The matter of properly applying manure, even on 

 the small garden, is also of importance. In amount, 



