29o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 20 
Part X. 
Wood Ashes and Bone. 
Another thing that regulates the ratio 
of the plant’s ration somewhat, is the 
idea that plants are dominated by some 
one element. For example, with pota¬ 
toes, fruits, clover, etc., potash seems to 
be the essential element; with Timothy, 
nitrogen ; with grains, phosphoric acid, 
and so on. Therefore, while all plants 
need a full meal, containing ample sup¬ 
plies of all three elements, the great 
success of the crop will be determined 
very largely by the presence of the 
dominatvve element. The fertilizer makers 
have made use of all these ideas in mak¬ 
ing up their special crop mixtures. Our 
opinion is that, as a rule, farmers do not 
use enough potash. By referring to the 
table, you will see that most of the or¬ 
dinary fertilizing substances do not con¬ 
tain potash at all, The refuse of the 
great slaughterhouses out West, and the 
fish scrap, bone and superphosphates, 
contain no potash, and the tendency 
among manufacturers has been to build 
up a trade based on mixtures weak in 
this very essential element. In our 
opinion, this has been a great mistake, 
and this is why we gave special atten¬ 
tion to the potash compounds. 
With all these facts in mind, our sug¬ 
gestion as to the ratio of fertilizers for 
various crops would be about as follows: 
rER CENT IN THE TON. 
Nitrogen. Phos. acid. Potash. 
Corn. 
.. 34 
9 
04 
Potatoes. 
.. 4 
8 
7 
Grain. 
.. 2*4 
15 
12 
Grass . 
.. 4 
6 
6 
Garden truck.. 
.. 6 
8*4 
7 
Fruits. 
.. 2 
8 
11 
Some explanation is needed with that. 
These suggestions are made for a soil of 
average fertility. Some soils may not 
contain a fair supply of potash or of 
phosphoric acid, in which case more of 
these elements would be needed. As we 
go along in these articles, we purpose to 
make some suggestions about testing 
soils to see what elements are lacking. 
The figures we give refer only to a safe 
c nnplete mixture to use on different crops 
without regard to the special needs of 
the soil, and where sod or stable manure 
is not used. Where they are used, we 
would, in a general way, advise you to 
cut the per cent of nitrogen in two. We 
would wish all the phosphoric acid to be 
amailablc. The nitrogen we would wish, 
if possible, in three forms—a part in the 
form of a nitrate like nitrate of soda, 
part in the form of ammonia, and part 
as organic nitrogen. 
For convenience, let us take up a well- 
known potato fertilizer, and see what it 
is. The analysis on the tag reads like 
this : 
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS. 
Ammonia, 4.50 to 5 per cent; Phosphoric Acid, 
8 to 10 per cent (soluble and available, 8 per 
cent); Soluble Potash, actual, 6 to 8 per cent, all 
as high grade Sulphate and in forms free from 
Muriates (or Chlorides); Magnesia, Lime, etc., 77 
to 81 per cent. 
The only thing we don’t understand yet 
about that is “ ammonia.” We have 
talked about nitrogen entirely. “ Am¬ 
monia ” is a combination of nitrogen 
with another gas, hydrogen. We are all 
familiar with its powerful smell. By 
weight, ammonia contains 14 parts in 17, 
or .82353 per cent of nitrogen. The dif¬ 
ference between nitrogen and ammonia 
may be illustrated by the difference be¬ 
tween sugar and a candy made by mix¬ 
ing sugar and butter. The candy con¬ 
tains more bulk, but a greater weight is 
required to give as much “sweetness” 
as the origiual sugar. 
One of the first things we would do in 
looking up that fertilizer, would be to 
see what the experiment stations had to 
say about it. By law, these stations are 
compelled to take samples of these goods 
at random, and analyze them so that 
farmers may see if the claims of the 
manufacturer are just. In the station 
report, we will find this report about 
the fertilizer: 
Found. Guaranteed. 
Nitrogen as nitrates. 2.16 
Nitrogen as ammonia.46 
Nitrogen as organic. 1.31 
Total nitrogen. 3.93 3.7 
Soluble phosphoric acid. 4.50 
Reverted phosphoric acid .. 3.83 
Insoluble phosphoric acid... 1. 
Available phosphoric acid... 9.33 8 
Total Potash. 8.12 6 
Potash as muriate.89 
We are able to tell from that table a 
good many things about that fertilizer. 
First, it is evident that they used in it 
at least three forms of nitrogen—proba¬ 
bly a good deal of nitrate of soda, some 
sulphate of ammonia and two or more 
forms of “organic.” As a rule our ad¬ 
vice is to look out for the “ cheap ” fer¬ 
tilizer, containing a large amount of 
“organic” nitrogen, unless you know 
positively that it is from available 
sources. The danger is that you may 
get a lot of ground leather which, to be 
sure, provides “organic nitrogen” on 
the same principle that oak sawdust sup¬ 
plies “ muscle makers” for human food. 
Both are “ there,” but in such form that 
they are practically useless. On general 
principles,, therefore, select the ferti¬ 
lizer with the most nitrate and ammonia. 
As to phosphoric acid, we will not re¬ 
peat what was said about sit 2 ierphos- 
phates and ground bone. The chemists 
figure bone as “reverted”—there is noth¬ 
ing to show in their reports whether this 
3.83 per cent here given is obtained from 
bone or from some form once made solu¬ 
ble and now reverted by adding lime. 
If there is any difference in value in the 
“reverted” forms, the chemists should 
state, if they can tell, when bone is used 
in anything like large quantities. One 
thing is evident, when the greater part 
of the phosphoric acid is soluble, it is 
evident that not much bone has been 
used. 
As to potash, the amount “as muriate” 
is given to show what proportion of the 
potash is free from chlorine. Back on 
page 192, we learned that substances 
that contain chlorine, like muriate, salt, 
kainit, etc., are bad for plants that pro¬ 
duce much starch and sugar, because 
they are likely to injure the quality. 
Therefore, in a potash fertilizer, the 
chemist tests for the chlorine, and its 
absence usually indicates that the sul¬ 
phate of potash was used. 
We conclude from these facts, there¬ 
fore, that this fertilizer contains nitrate 
of soda, sulphate of ammonia, bone and 
some other form of organic nitrogen. 
Its phosphoric acid comes from some 
superphosphate and bone, while the pot¬ 
ash is almost entirely from the sulphate. 
One good thing about this fertilizer is 
that, in each case, the chemist finds more 
plant food than the manufacturer guar¬ 
antees. When you come to think of it, 
you can see how hard it is to get these 
mixtures so exact that two handfuls 
taken at random from different parts of 
a big pile, will give the same analysis. 
Suppose you try to mix 200 pounds of 
salt all through a ton of dry earth. You 
could not, with ordinary tools, mix it so 
that you could safely guarantee that 
each 11 pounds of the mixture will con¬ 
tain one pound of the salt. In the same 
way, a fertilizer maker cannot take cer¬ 
tain ingredients and mix them together 
and guarantee that each sample will 
figure out an exact analysis. That is 
why the manufacturer always gives a 
wide range in his guarantee. The safest 
way for the buyer is to take the lowest 
figure in the guarantee, and then see 
what the station reports tell. While 
these station reports do not tell every¬ 
thing about fertilizers, they are of great 
value to the farmer, both in enabling him 
to make comparisons, and in forcing 
manufacturers to maintain the quality of j 
their goods. Our annual fertilizer trade 
now amounts to over $50,000,000, and 
without legal restriction and intelligent 
buying, farmers could be defrauded of a 
large share of this vast sum. The better 
class of manufacturers and dealers, are 
glad to cooperate with the stations in 
placing the trade on a fair and scientific 
basis. 
We will now leave the plant food side 
of the subject for a time, and try to see 
what the soil is. 
Cat Breeding. —A cat show is to be held in New 
York, May 8 to 11. In giving the reason for such 
an exhibition, the managers say : “ There are a 
large number of magnificent cats in New York, 
which their owners have promised to exhibit; 
and to those accustomed to see only the poor, for¬ 
lorn, back-yard, meowing Tom, these cats will be 
a revelation. If the breeding of cats were properly 
studied, and they were taken as much care of as 
the dog, they would be found just as interesting 
and capable of as much affection.” We don’t 
believe that any cat is capable of showing real 
affection. It isn’t in their nature. At the same 
time, there is no doubt about the value of selec¬ 
tion in breeding. As at present bred, the cat 
comes the nearest to the selection followed by 
wild animals of any of our domesticated beasts. 
In a state of wildness, animals do not increase in 
size or productiveness. These desirable qualities 
come from outside selection with a view to pro¬ 
duce certain desired results. 
%ttijScrUam;ou£ JSMmtij&inn. 
/MOTHERS 
1 1. recovering from 
recovering 
the illness at¬ 
tending child¬ 
birth, or who suf- 
'ffer from the ef- 
' fects of disorders, 
derangements 
and displace¬ 
ments of the wo¬ 
manly organs, 
will find relief 
and a permanent cure in Dr. Pierce’s 
Favorite Prescription. Taken during 
pregnancy, the “Prescription” 
HAKES CHILDBIRTH EASY 
by preparing the system for parturition, 
thus assisting Nature and shortening 
“labor.” The painful ordeal of child¬ 
birth is robbed of its terrors, and the 
dangers thereof greatly lessened, to both 
mother and child. The period of confine¬ 
ment is also greatly shortened, the 
mother strengthened and built up, and an 
abundant secretion of nourishment for 
the child promoted. If 
THE MARRIED WOMAN 
be delicate, run-down, or overworked, it 
worries her husband as well as herself. 
This is the proper time to build up her 
strength and cure those weaknesses, or 
ailments, which are the cause of her 
trouble. Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescrip¬ 
tion dispels aches and pains, melancholy 
and nervousness, brings refreshing sleep 
and makes a new woman of her. 
Mrs. Abram Lyon, of 1.orraine, Jefferson Co., N. 
Y., writes : “I had been 
suffering from ulceration 
and falling of the womb, 
for several years, or since 
the birth of my youngest 
child. I consulted all the , 
physicians around here ^ 
and they gave me up and)„ 
said there was no help E 
for me. 
At last, almost discour¬ 
aged, I began taking Dr. 
Pierce’s Favorite Pre¬ 
scription and took five 
bottles. It is three years > 
since and I have not had \ 
any return of the trouble. 
I feel very grateful, and 
in fact, owe you my life, 
for I do not think I should have been alive now 
if I had not taken your medicine.” 
Mrs. Lyon. 
Steel Truck Wheels 
For Farm Wagons. 
We Make the Strongest. 
Neatest, and Best in 
the U. S. 
Farmers use them in haul¬ 
ing fodder, grain, hogs, 
wood and manure. Saves 
the farmer, saves the 
horses, saves the cost of 
the wheels in one season. 
Write for circulars, price, 
etc. Save this address. 
HAVANA METAL 
WHEEL CO., 
Havana, - - III. 
Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Sciatica, Backache. 
BLATCHFORD’S 
CALF MEAL. 
Perfect Substitute for nilk in raising Calves, 
Doubled In strength this season. One 1 b. makei 
one gal, of rich Qruel as nutritious as milk. 
Sa mple 25 lbs., $1.00. Pamphlet “How t o 
Raise Calves Cheaply a nd Successfully Without 
Hilk,” with letters from those who have done 
«o, sent free. __ 
J. W. BARWELL, 16 Pacific Ave.,Chicago, 
_Jobber of mil Feeds, Grain , etc. ._ 
Gluten Meal. Pure Oilmeals, Undecorticated 
Cotton Seed He al, Fat Stock C orn an d Wheat 
Feed, R ice Heal, C orn Bran , Wheat B ran,_ 
' TUddhngs, Flour, etc. of best qualities. 
P atent Slow-Feed Manger; $1.60 each; 9,000 
sold. 50 Warren St., New York; 140 N. Broad St., 
Philadelphia, and 53 Elm St., Boston, Mass. 
FRENCH BUHR MILLS 
28 sizes and styles. Every mill warranted. 
For All Kinds of 
A hoy can operate 
in order. “Book on Mi 
and sample meal FREE. 
All kinds mill machinery. Flour 
mills built, roller or buhrsystem. 
Reduced Prices for ’95. 
N0RDYKE & MARM0N CO. 
270 Day Street, 
s,Ind. 
Did the commis¬ 
sion house through 
which you sell your 
butter, report a 
“fishy flavor”? If 
so, you did not use 
Ashton’s Salt, 
but some pretty, glaring-white, 
fine-grained salt, costing less. 
That was your mistake. Don’t 
repeat it. 
ASHTON’S Salt for sale 
anywhere. 
FRANCIS D. MOULTON & CO., 
Agents for United States and Canada, 
29 Broadway, New York. 
BEK buying a new harness 
Send 2 cent stamp for 80 
page Illustrated Catalogue 
of Custom Hand-made Oak 
Leather Harness, sold 
direct to consumers at 
wholesale prices. Why not 
buy from first hands and 
save the middleman’s 
profit A buggy harness 
for $7; a team harness for 
$16. You can buy by mai. 
as well as though here In person. 
KING & CO., Mfrs., No. 10 Church St.,Owego, N.Y 
DR “ Still 
King 
THE BIT OF BITS. 
Will eontroll the most 
vicious horse. 
Sales Greater Than Ever. 
Sample mailed XC for 
Nickel, $1.50. 
Stallion Bits 50 cts. extra. 
RACINE, 
$ 1.00 
RACINE MALLEABLE IRON CO., 
WIS. 
Horse Carts 
12 STYLES. 
NARROW and]! $25 
WIDE TIRES. V Upward*. 
and 4 Wheels. Write for 
circ’sand say what you need. 
HOBSON &. CO., I f'actory- 
tio.4 Stone St., NewYork. | Talaroy,Pa. 
use in Dairies, Laundries, Slaughter¬ 
houses, Running Engines, Pumping Water 
by Steam ana other uses. Address; 
J. K. PURINTON, & CO., Des Moines, Ia. 
\W rSfDrDC SEND for 
I IV Ea b I Era IV O Sample copy of 
CLEANINCS IN BEE CULTURE. 
I A Handsomely Illustrated OCT CIIDDI ICC 
I Magazine, and Catalog oi DLL OUirLlL.0 
'ifREIl. THE A. 1 . ROOT CO.. Medina.*). 
FREE 
POULTRY BOOK, 40 pages. 16 
varieties. Eggs, $1 for 13. DAVIS 
BROS., Box E, Washington, N. J 
.SHOEMAKER’S POULTRY BOOK, 
I on earth, 84 pages printed in colors. Photo Engravings 
" of the largest Poultry Farm in the Northwest. Descrip- 
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2000 prizes at 10 State Show* In 1894. 
Send three one cent stamp! for best Illustrated 
Catalogue, size 8 x n, 32 pages. 
CRAS. GAMMERDINGER, BOX 70 COLUMBUS, 0. 
