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ing constituents per ton — 160 pounds, or over 50 per cent, more than is 

 contained in the average manufactured brand. That is, a farmer pur- 

 chasing a brand similar to formula No. 1 would secure in 2 tons as much 

 plant food as would be conlained in 3 tons of the average manuafactured 

 brand. Assuming that the charges per pound of plant food at the fac- 

 tory, and that the expense charges are the same in each case, and also 

 that the quality of plant food in the one is as good as in the other, the 

 consumer would save $8.50 by purchasing 2 tons of the former instead 

 of 3 tons of the latter. In a few States the consumption of fertilizers 

 ranges from 150,000 to over 300,000 tons annually, while in many it is 

 from 25,000 to 50,000 tons. 



Thus is shown the very great saving that maybe effected in the mat- 

 ter of the purchase of fertilizers from the standpoint of concentration 

 alone, or, in other words, the importance of a definite knowledge of 

 what constitutes value in a fertilizer. This saving may be accom- 

 plished, too, without any detriment t o the manuf acturer, since the f di- 

 ference to him between making high-grade or low-grade goods, in re- 

 ference to concentration, is largely a matter of unskilled labour. The 

 manufacturers are in the business to cater to the demands of the trade ; 

 if consumers are intelligent, high-grade rather than low-grade goods 

 will be provided by the manufacturers. Furthermore, as already indi- 

 cated, high-grade in the matter of concentration means high-grade in 

 quality, for high-grade mixtures can not be made from low-grade pro- 

 ducts. 



In many cases, too, it is desirable to purchase the unmixed fertilizing 

 materials, either for use singly or to be mixed at home. Here, too, a 

 great saving may be effected— (1) in the cost per pound of the consti- 

 tuents , (2) in freight rates, and (3) in having the mixing performed by 

 the ordinary labour of the farm at times when it does not interfere with, 

 regular out-door work. The advantages to be derived from this met hod 

 are, however, fully realized only when it is possible to purchase in large 

 quantities for cash. 



As an illustration of the saving that may be effected, it is but neces- 

 sary to cite the experience of a farmers' organizat ion in New Jersey, 

 which now purchases annually some 500 or 600 tons of unmixed goods. 

 The cost per pound of the ingredients is to them over 40 per cent less 

 than the average cost to those who buy the average mixture in small 

 quantities "on time" from their local dealers. 



It has been shown, too, by the studies of many of the experiment sta- 

 tions of both the East and South that the materials can be evenly 

 mixed on the farm; besides, samples carefully taken show as good a 

 mechanical condition as those made by the leading manufacturers. 



This method of purchasing also possesses the further advantage of 

 enabling the farmer to apply just the kind and form of ingredient that 

 he has found by experience or experiment to be best adapted to his soil 

 and crop. Besides, he knows positively, particularly in case of the ele- 

 ment nitrogen, whether it is in the form of nitrate, ammonia, or organic 

 matter, and whether the organic nitrogen is contained in substances 

 that are likely to decay quickly, as blood, cotton-seed meal, etc., or in 

 such insoluble and slow-acting substances as ground leather, horn, etc. 



In mixtures the kind of organic nitrogenous bubstances used can not 

 be definitely shown by a chemical analysis. 



