The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-02-07

potaeh from the soil through its roots,
and it's carbon from the air through
it's leaves, the combination must take
place within the plant, and under the
influence of it's living organism, just as
the child's bread, meat, potatoes, milk
and sugar unite to produce its growth
after they are taken into the stomach
and are there digested and by means
Of the circulation of the blood are as
simulated by the living organism of
the child. - z@-- -------- ~.
From this it would appear that the
best way to apply fertilizers is to apply
the several ingredients separately by
some good distributing and tillage inn
plement, like the wheat drill, and in
some cases this might be done cheaper
than to mix them beforehand-such
an application taking the place of
narrowing. But where the several in
gradients are previously mixed all may
be applied at one time, and thus save
repeatedly going over the land, and
this may often be quite saving. How
ever, it is probable that phosphoric
acid and potash might be applied in
large quantities at long intervals, say
once every six or eight years, with no
appreciable loss, and thus leave only
the nitrogen to be applied annually, as
nitrogen is the only ingredient that as
sumes a gaseous form and thus escapes
by evaporation or by the teaching Of
rains.
In order to settle some of the points
above discussed the Ohio station has
made extensive expe riments in the
comparison of a few standard brands
of factory mixed fertilizers, with home
mixtures containing the same percent
age of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
potash.
The factory. mixed fertilizers we're
purchased from old, reputable houses
within the State and the ingredients
for the home mixture were purchased
in the form of tankage to supply nitro
gen, acid phosphate to supply acid,
and muriate of potash to supply pot
ash, these being the cheapest forms in
which to buy these ingredients in Ohio.
The crops grown by the home mixed
fertilizers were a shade better than
those grown on the factory mixed
goods of same grade, and the average
saving in cost was $8 80 per ton.
In short, the field tests of the Ohio
Experiment Station are showing con-
clusIvely that out of tankage acid
phosphate and muriate of potash, all
of which are in the condition of dry
powder or salt, it is possible to make
fertilizer that will equal in effect any
factory mixed fertilizer of equivalent
composition. Farmers are prof1ting
by this demonstration to form ''home
mixing" associations, purchasing the
nee essary materials in carloads, thus
getting the advantage of wholesale
prices and low freights, and thereby
reducing the cost of their fertilizers by
so per cent. or more.
In some cases the farmers have
agreed upon a common formula and
taken bids on this formula, the fertili-
zer to be delivered in carloads ready
mixed and subject to the analysis OF
the State fertilizer control or expert.
ment station. One farm. n.ers' organiza-
ton of this kind in Pennsylvania mum
bers more than 600 members, AID one
in Ohio will use 800 tons of fertilizer
this year. Each of these clubs will
save several thousand dollars in one
years purchase.
The best fertilizer houses are glad to
meet the farmers in this manner, for
they realize that the consumption of
fertilizers will be largely increased
when the farmers can get them at a
fair price.