The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1882-05-06
An Insight Iuto Commercial Eertlllsers.

a few years back dealers In fertilizers,
placed upon tho market certain grades
which they claimed to be especially adapt.
CD Tor all crops. IL was soon discovered
that some OF the causes Of dissntis ractron
on the part OF tho users were due to the
fact that fertilizer might bo very good
for certain crops and not beneficial to
others. Nearly all fcrtilizera contain nj
lrogen Gas ammonia). phosphorio acid
potash, lime, soda, magnesie, saphur;o
and other acids and organic matter. Tt.e
ACIDS, with tho lime, soda, magucsin a,,d
organic matter usually comprise about rs
per cent. OF tho whole, leaving the re-
| naming % per cent. to be apporlIancd
between the phosphorlc acid, nitrogen aud
potash. Now, tho chief value of q fcrt!-
iizer consists i'll this matter OF apporllon-
ment, tho slightest variation affecting its
commercial as well as its economic value
| several dollars per ton. 1t nitrogen bu in
excess 1t greatly increases the worth or
tho fertilizer; phosphoric acid and potash
come next in order Of value as leading
| constituents.
we can at once by noticing tho ar
rangcment OF these ingredients in thor
several proportions, understand why
FERTILIZER for potatoes should cost moro
Than that intended for fruit and vines. So
we learn also, that instead of any psrtlc.,-
lar fertilizer being adapted to all soi'p an;.
an crops, each crop has reqnire5,e Of
lis own, and the most economical ::lcthoI
OF using fertilizers 10 to apply them
III proportions adapted to moe. tho wants
or The crop. The fertilizers formulated
lor potatoes are 80 pr0portioned that not
only must the substance for the growt',
Of the tubers be Supplied. but that for tno
vines also. The proportions of ingredients
tof complete fertilizer for potatoes IL
usually about rs per cent, OF amouia, 8
per cent. Of phosphoric acid, z per cent.
OF potash, aud about 80 per cent. of lime.
organic matter, etc. These proportions
vary slightly with different manufactures,
Dut they are about the quantities required.
Inc price of such fertilizer, according to
present cost of ingredients, should DC
ABOUT $4T per ton OF about 1900 pounds
1t is very different with fertilizers for
fruits and vines, for they arc formulatoh
with about $50 per cent. of ammouia, 7
per cent. of phosphoric acid, 8 81 per
cent. OF potash, aud 81 per cent. OF limo,
organic matter, etc. The price should be
III the neig hborhood OF $50 per ton. This
difference IN cost arises from the different
quantities Jf ammonia In tho two fert.li-
zers-ihe one being 4.T5 per ceut. aud
The other 250-which q soems like
very small amount.
Another look into the bags, aud we stop
to consider the kind of fertllia.r we are
buying. S)ubility of the ingredients is
the main object to bs considered, but 1t
does not follow that tho farmer has boon
cheated because the ingredients are not
nil soluaole. lie want ia t. ut once sup
ply his crop, with food ready prep Ared, and
available as desired, 1t may be in a goSI
condition for succeeding crop. 1t makes
great difference what form OF am nonIa,
phosphoric aclt or potash take In tho fer
lilizer. For instance, il ammonia exists III
the shape aifording good Peruvian guano,
or as nitrate OF soda or sulphate Of ammo
MIA, 1t is in form to be readily available
FOR plant food but il 1t existed in pow
dercd leather it would not be 80 sAtisfac-
tory, for time would be req Tired tn. dissolve
II IN the soil ; and yet Ill buying such a
fertilizer th9 farmer would HOT really De
wronged for analysis by a chemist would
show 1t to contain lls proper proportion
Of ammonia. But the fertilizer would not
bo available for early action; yet the mon-
ey you'll not be lost III the end, especially
ii the dressing was applied On Clay SOL.
Two per cent. OF nitrogen IN a soluble
condition is ordinarily better than ~ par
cent. In an improper state.