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570 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1899. 
The bulk of these manures consist of a mixture of phosphatic, nitrogenous, 
and potash manures. The phosphatic portion is present either in the soluble 
or superphosphate condition or else in that of the insoluble or bone phosphate 
condition. * 
The nitrogen is present either in the form of sulphate of ammonia, or in 
that of blood, nipho, or other form of organic nitrogen—usually the former ; 
and the potash is almost always present in the form of sulphate of potash. lhe 
so-called Colonial Sugar Company’s manures are good examples of this type, and 
their composition can be relied upon, but there are others on the market equally 
as good. 
In dealing with the question of complete or mixed fertilisers, I wish it to 
be clearly understood that the suggested composition of and quantity to be 
applied to any particular crop is not to be taken as absolutely binding on all classes 
of soils and under all sorts of conditions of cropping and cultivation, but to refer 
to land of medium quality, well worked, in good condition, and preferably under 
a systematic rotation of crops. In the matter of manuring it is impossible to 
lay down any hard-and-fast rules, as, though we know that a certain crop will 
take so many pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash out of the soil, 
the mere fact of our adding this quantity of plant food to the soil will not be 
sufficient to secure such crop. The state of the land, heat, moisture, and many 
other factors have to be taken into consideration; but, at the same time, the 
knowledge of the essential plant foods required by individual crops, and the 
practical application of this knowledge, combined with sound common sense and 
judgment, will be found to be of great value. In the case of the application of 
commercial fertilisers, the agriculturist will learn as much, if not more, by 
careful observation of the habits of growth of various plants, and of the action 
of the various manures on same in his particular soil, and under the particular 
conditions of climate in which he is working, than he will from all the chemist 
can tell him of the analysis of his soil or of the plant foods extracted from it 
by various crops. The best results are obtained by a judicious combination of 
both the scientific knowledge of the chemist and the practical observation and 
knowledge of the agriculturist. : 
Composition of Mixed Fertilisers.—In estimating the value of commercial 
fertilisers I have taken the standard adopted by the New South Wales Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, viz.:— 
5s. 4d. per unit for water soluble phosphoric acid. 
4s. 6d. per unit for citrate soluble phosphoric acid. 
2s, per unit for insoluble phosphoric acid. 
5s. 4d. per unit for potash. 
10s. per unit for nitrogen in blood, nipho, offal, Xe. 
9s. 6d. per unit for sulphate of ammonia. 
In the different mixtures recommended the individual fertilisers are assumed 
to be of the following composition, a high standard having been chosen :— 
Sulphate of ammonia, containing 204 per cent. of nitrogen, worth £10 
per ton. ‘ 
Nipho, containing 12 per cent. of nitrogen, worth £6 per ton. 
Dried blood, containing 124 per cent. of nitrogen, worth £6 5s. per ton, 
Superphosphate, containing 17 per cent. of water soluble phosphoric acid, 
worth £4 5s. per ton. 
Bone phosphate, containing 274 per cent. of insoluble phosphoric acid, 
worth £2 15s. per ton. 
Meatworks manure, containing 64 per cent. of nitrogen and 14 per cent. 
of insoluble phosphoric acid, worth £4 13s. per ton. 
Sulphate of potash, containing 50 per cent. of potash, worth £18 10s. 
per ton. 
