Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-21
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS.
ECONOMY IN PURCHASING DIFFERENT
FORMS OF PLANT FOOD.

The most expensive form In which nj
trogen Is usually purchased Is that OF
sulphate Of ammonia. When high grade
sulphate of ammonia sells for SO a ton,
each pound Of nitrogen in 1t costs about
IL cents. When high grade nitrate Of
soda sells for SIS ton, each pound OF
| nitrogen la this form costs about IA l-3
cents. As between these two forms the
nitrogen Of one Is nearly 3 cents pound
cheaper than the nitrogen Of the other,
and il will therefore be found more
economical TO use nitrate OF soda rather
than sulphate Of ammonia when special
circumstances do not require the use Of
the latter. Dried blood, containing IL per
cent of nitrogen, at 81 ton, furnishes
nitrogen at an approximate cost Of ii l-2
cents pound. The nitrogen In fish
scrap may cost somewhat less. In such
forms as wool waste, ground leather and
hair, nitrogen may be purchased at much
less, but these forms are not economical
when anything like quick returns are
desired.
The cheapest possible manner in which
farmers can provide their crops with
nitrogen is by means Of such plants as
clover. Nitrogen supplied In this way
can be made 20 considerable degree 10
take the place II the nitrogen Of COM
mercial fertilizers and at greatly d.
minished cost.
Soluble phosphoric acid can in general
be more cheaply purchased In the form
OF dissolved rock than in the form OF
dissolved bone or boneblack.
Muriste Of potash costs less than sui
phate. and Is therefore more economical,
when its use answers ones purpose.
With the exception Of few crops, like
tobacco, sugar beets and potatoes, muri-
ate OF potash car nearly always be used
10 advantage. Potash In the form oil
carbonate, "a found in wood ashes, Is
apt 10 be somewhat expensive. when
ashes contain 5 per cent of potash and
per cent of phosphoric acid and cost $40
a ton, each pound OF potash costs about
cents, while in the form OF mnriste or
sulphate the cost would be about one
half. IL Is easily conceivable, however,
that on certain soils the use OF ashes
might prove economical, owing 10 their
Indirect action on the soil. The only
way of telling with absolute certainty
whether ashes viii prove more econon-
icsl than other forms of potash is to make
an actual trial.
ln applying fertilizers, bulk Is often
desirable, but in purchasing commercial
fertilizers, the object should be 10 secure
as much nitrogen, potash and phosphorie
acid in available forms as possible for 81,
Instead Of as many pounds as possible OF
fertilizer. regardless OF the amount of
plant food contained in IL. This is par
ticularly applicable TO mixed fertilizers,
which at present form the great bulk OF
fertilizers sold in this state. IL Is, as a
rule. more economical TO purchase fer
tilizers In their concentrated forms. For
illustration, Il is more economical 10
purchase one ton Of a high grade fertilik-
er than three tons OF low grade Ter
,ilizer, one ton Of the former containing
the same amount OF plant food contained
la three tons of the latter, because, In
making the latter, three times as much
labor ia involved in mixing the goods,
three times as many packages are re-
quired, aud three times as much freight
must be paid, all for the same amount
OF plant Bulletin New York Ex-
pertinent Station.