Fertilizers 



53 



work. The unwelcome and obdurate fact remained 

 that a certain number of pounds of nitrogen, phos- 

 phoric acid and potash — about thirty-three — in a 

 ton of good manure would grow bigger crops than 

 would the same number of pounds of the same ele- 

 ments in a bag of chemical fertilizer. 



Nevertheless this theory, while it failed as the 

 basis of an exact agricultural science, has been de- 

 veloped into an invaluable guide for using all 

 manures, and especially concentrated chemical ma- 

 nures. And the above facts, if I have presented 

 them clearly, will assist the home gardener in solv- 

 ing the fertilizer problems which he is sure to 

 encounter. 



VARIOUS FERTILIZERS 



What are termed the raw materials from which 

 the universally known "mixed fertilizers" are made 

 up, are organic or inorganic substances which con- 

 tain nitrogen, phosphoric acid or potash in fairly 

 definite amounts. 



Some of these can be used to advantage by them- 

 selves. Those practical for use by the home gar- 

 dener, I mention. The special uses to which they 

 are adapted will be mentioned in Part Two, under 

 the vegetables for which they are valuable. 



Ground Bone is rich in phosphate and lasts a 

 long time; what is called "raw bone" is the best. 



