The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-02
The MYSTERY IN A FERTILIZER
SACK.

Thousands Of sacks have come to my
railway station filed with fertilizers CT
various kinds and I have often o
dered and sometimes asked those who
got them if they knew the mystery
that was in them. In every case they
have told me that they did not know
was in the sacks, except by reading
the printed formula on the outside or
by taking the word of the agent that
they contained Just what their crops
needed"
Now, I have no grudge against the
fertilizer agents or the manufacturers.
They are trying, each for himself, to
make q living handling commercial
manures, and are as honest in their
business a. the average man and some
may be more so. But the farmer ought
to know something about his end Of
the transaction. He surely knows
very little about it, and it is his own
fault in most cases. 1t is simply won.
derful that, in buying nearly $40. 600,
900 worth Of commercial fertilizer,
every year, the farmers do not strive
to thoroughly understand what they
are buying and see that they get the
very best and most suitable returns
for the money expended.
The fact that the contents Of fertili
ger bag are a mystery to the average
farmer, was formerly an inducement
to dishonest dealers to take advantage
Of farmers, but fortunately this class
of men in the trade has been extermi-
mated by the establishment of a sys
tenn of a fertilizer inspection. Chemists
are now employe ed by the States to an
Rlyze samples Of every brand that is
offered for sale. Reports are published
in most Of the States for the use and
benefit of the farmers. They describe
what q good fertilizer is and how it is
made up. They tell about the different
crops and how to supply them. All
this and much more besides is done for
the farmers by the State boards of
agriculture and experiment stations.
More than that, it is all done free of
cost to the farmers, except as they
may help support them by paying
taxes. What more sensible thing
could a farmer do than to write to the
proper State official and get these re,
ports and study them! The farmer
who buys without first studying into
and computing the value of the essen
tial parts Of the fertilizers he buys,
that is the nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash in them, is ''going it
blind" That is foolish, and especially
so when it ia so easy to become in
formed. Honest fertilizer men are
glad. to have farmers study these re
ports and see what constitutes a good
fertilizer and know who does and who
does not make them. Some of the re,
ports give lists Of the different brands
by name and their real value in plain
terms. A knowledge of the truth about
fertilizers inspires conf 1ence and in.
creases their use, but ignorance dis
courages their use.
Some farmers get the crude mate
rails, such as nitrate of soda, muriate
Of potash and dissolved phosphate
rock or bone and mix them at home.
I have done this and find it easy.
Sometimes farmers club together
and buy their fertilizers in large guam.
titles. By this plan they get lower
prices and also save in freight.
There is no reason why there should
be any mystery about such a simple
thing as a fertilizer, and with the easy
facilities for study about the same,
any farmer who fails to do so and sui.
fers, has only himself to blame.
Remember these three points: that,
nitrogen is the great stimulant to ten