Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-18
ON Sire press.
AGRICULTI RIAL.
some PratIcal Explanations ADO"
Fertilizer ingredients.
From the New England homestead

From the New EuB anu IlOhhVo'N"''l
Nitrogen is commercially the most val
uoble fertilizing element. Organic nitro
cen il the nitrogen OF animal and vegeta-
Hle matters. Some forms of organic nj
trogcn. MS those of blood and meat, are
hpIlv active as fertilizers others, as
found in leather aud peat, are COMPARE
lively slow ia their effect on vegetation,
unless these matters ale chemically disln-
teoroted Ammonia and nitric acid are
results of the decay of organic nitrogen
in the soil and manure heap, and are the
most active forms of nitrogen. They oc-
rur in commerce-the former III sulphate
of ammonia. the latter in nitrate OF soda.
Seventeen parts of ammonia or 66 parts
of pure sulphate of ammonia contain Ia
parts of nitrogen. Eighty-five parts OF
pure nitrate of soda also contain Ia parts
OF nitrogen.
Soluble phosphoric acid implies phos-
phoric acid or phosphates that are freely
solHble in water 1t is the characteristic
ingredient of superphosphates, IN winch
it is produced, by acting on "lnsoiuole
or reverted" phosphates, with oil OF VT
rol. Once well Incorporated with the
soil it gradually becomes reverted phos-
phoric acid. ;,
Reverted Creduced or precipitated)
phosphoric acid means strictly, phos-
phoric acid that was once easily soluble
in water, but from chemical change mas
become insoluble in that liquid. In pres
ont usage the term signifies the phospho'
ric acid Cof various phosphates) that Is
freely taken up by strong. solution OF
ammonium citrate, which IS therefore
used in analysis to determine It's quaint
ty. Reverted phosphoric acid implies
phosphates that are readily asslmllateo
by crops.
Recent investigation tends to show that
soluble and reverted phOsphonc acid are
on the whole about equally valuable a.
plant food and of nearly equal CONNER
cial value. In some cases, indeed, the
soluble gives better results on crops, III
others the reverted is superior. In mos'
cases there is probably little to choose
between them.
Insoluble phosphoric acid implies va
rious phosphates not soluble III water OF
ammonium citrate. In some cases inc
phosphoric acid is too insoluble to be
readily available as plant food. Tins is
especially true of Canada apatlte. Bone
black, bone-ash, South Carolina rocB
and Navassa phosphate when III coarse
powder are commonly of little repute as
fertilizers though good results are occa
sionally reported from their use. Whel
very finely pulyerized c'hoats') they
more often act well, especially III connec
ton with abundance OF decaying vegeta
bic matters. The phosphate OF ra"
bones is nearly insoluble, because of the
animal matter of the bones, which en-
velopes it but when the latter decays IN
,Int N
tiallv the reverted" form. Potash sig
mites the substance known in chemistry
as potassium oxide. which is the valuable
fertilizing ingredient of ','potashes anc
potash SALTS 1t should be soluble II
water and is most costly in the form O
sulphate, and cheapest in the shape O
muriate potassium chloride).
The valuation of a fertilizer, rs prac'
ticed at this station. signifies finding the
worth in money or trade-vhlue, of its fer
tilizing ingredients. This value, 1t should
be remembered, is NOT necessarily pro-
portional to its fertilizing effects III any
special case
Plaster, lime, stable manure and nearly
all Of the less expensive fertilizers have
variable prices, which bear no close re-
lation to their chemical composition
Duu SudnOS, upcIpuosPH"'en anu 'iiAAi.
articles. for which $50 to $50 are paid
depend chiefly for their trade-value on
the three substances, nitrogen, phospho-
ric acid and potash, which are compare
lively costly and steady in price. The
money-value per pound of these ingre-
dlents is reckoned from the current mar
ket prices of the standard articles which
furnish them to commerce.
The consumer, in estimating the rea-
sonable price to pay for high. grade fer.
tilizers, should add to the trade-value OF
the above-named ingredients, suitable
margin for the expenses of manufacture,
ETC., and for the convenience or other adj
vantage incidental to their USE Con
necticut Experiment Station Bulletin No.
IS.