Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-02-16
worthless Fertilizer Fol.s.

The North Carolina College of Azri-
culture has sent out a warning advis-
ing farmers not to buy the fertilizer
formulas that are being extensively
advertised and sold. 1t says that in
the first place most of the formulas
are of no value, and in the second place
that the agricultural colleges are al
ways ready to supply the very best
formulas free. 1t then publishes a
formula that had been purchased of
one Of these agents for SIS. 1t says:
One ton of the fertilizer would be
made up as follows:
55S lbs. Stable manure.
8 lbs. Potash.
4 lbs. Nitrate Of soda.
lbs. "Copperas."
IL lbs. Muriate of ammonia.
lbs. phosphate acid.''
50 lbs. Warm water.
81 lbs. Lime.
927 lbs. New dirt
243 lbs. Ashes.
60 lbs. Salt.
1000 lbs Total.
Some of these ingredients call for
special mention:
The substance acid phosphate, or su-
perphosphate, is in common use for
acid is also known to the chemist, but
there is no such substance as "phos-
phate acid" and consequently, it is i'm
possible for the farmer to purchase it.
Muriate of ammonia is not used for
fertilizing purposes and is not Ii
censed for sale in the state for such
purposes. The only portion Of it which
is Of value to plants is nitrogen, and
ha oh a in cd oh y,1v tn bo
form of sulphate Of ammonia, nitrate
of soda, or organic substances. The di-
rections for making Home Fertilizer
are to mix the chemicals with warm
water. Under these circumstances the
ammonia will be set free by the potash
and be lost
Copperas has been used upon expert
mental plots and found to be of no
value in promoting plant growth.
Nitrate of Soda is valuable to plants
when enough is used. In the Home
Fertilizer only four pounds per ton
of compost are used, and this quantity
is too small to be of any value. The
nitrogen in four pounds OF nitrate of
soda would be furnished by about three
dead cats and three dead cats to the
acre would not help the plants very
much
Commercial potash is a mixture OF
potassium carbonate, caustic potash
and caustic soda. 1t Is not used for
fertilizing purposes and is not licensed
for sale for such purposes. 1t is OBJ
1ectfonable because, on account of its
caustic properties, it would tend to
set ammonia free, and because the
fertilizing element which it furnishes
can be obtained more cheaply from the
potash salts which are found upon the
market. The actual potash in four
pounds of commercial potash could be
obtained from one bushel Of ashes.
Lime is of value on some soils, but
when used 1t is best to apply it df-
rectly to the soil at the rate of one ton
or more per acre. In the compost heap
it sometimes aids and sometimes
checks fermentation. Its value in the
compost heap is questionable, and it
is not recommended for such use by
the leading authorities.
Salt does not furnish any element
which is needed by the plant, and it is
of no value in the compost heap Many
years ago it was used in the compost
heap with lime, but il is no longer used
in that way, as it is considered to be
OF no benefit.
Nearly one-haf of a ton of Home
Fertilizer is new dirt. The only OBJ
ject in using new dirt in a compost
heap is to catch any ammonia which
might otherwise be lost. For this pur-
pose small quantities are sufficient
When large quantities of new dirt are
used the fertilizing strength of the
compost is weakened and large
amount OF unnecessary labor in hand
ling is involved.