The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-02-25
Farm Miscellany.
MIX YOUR OWN FERTILIZERS.
c. w. KNOX.

Referring TO this subject we find a
very valuable discussion in Farmers
Bulletin No. 65, from which We
quote: us has repeatedly been
urged that it ia not practicable for
farmers to mix their own fertilizers,
because mixing cannot be satisfao-
torily done with the ordinary facili-
ties of the farm but reports of a
large number of practical and q G
cessful farmers in Connections, New
Jersey, Rhode Island, and other
States have shown beyond question
that fertilizer mixtures uniform in
quality, fine, dry, and equal in all
respects TO the best factorY-made
fertilizers, Can be and are annually
made on the farm without the aid of
milling machinery.
GA tight barn floor, platform scales,
screen, shovel AMI hoe are the only
utensils needed. The materials be-
ing weighed, screened, and Jumps
pulverized, the most bulky stock is
spread in an an oblOng pile from 6
TO II inches deep upon it's leveled
top the next material is placed, and
so on until all have been sdded like
layers on a layer cake. Commencing
at n end, the pile is shoveled over,
reaching clear TO the bottom every
time. The pile is then leveled up
and the operation repeated three
times. The mixture may then be
screened again if desired.
Gin this system u farmer has a
definite knowledge of the kinds of
plant food that he purchases. E1oh
Ingredient can be examined separ
ately and it's nature and qualty.de-
termined. Leather, shOddy, wool
waste, or other inferior materials
cannot be p4lmed off as readily as
when disguised by other materials in
mixed goods
"A further advantage is the abil
ity of the farmer to vary the proper
tions of the different f%ertllizIng in.
gradients TO suiB the varying require.
ments of soil and crop. 1t has been
urged in objection to this that the
farmer as a rule does not possess the
information necessary to enable him
to mix his fertilizing ingredients in
the proper proportions TO meet mott
economically the varying require
ments of his soils and crops.
eff the farmer does not know the
requirements of his own soil who is
TO tell him? No two soils have ex
aotly the came needs and no two
crops the same requirements. It is
idle TO hope that ONE 'rpacial' fer
tiliZers can be oOm pounded which
will be perfectly adapted TO a given
crop on all soils and under all condi
lions. This is a species of agricul
tural quaokery which fortunately j.
rapidly passing away, 1t is becom-
ing more and more evident every day
that in the use of fertilizers, as in
other agricultural operations, every
farm is an experiment and that every
farmer must be an alert expert.
menter.
"To summarize briefly, it is be
lieved that the Investigations of the
stations and the experience of prac-
tical farmers show that the main
conditions which must be observed
by intelligent and progressive farm
ers in order TO make the system of
home mixing of fertilizers entirely
feasible and thoroughly economical
are '(1) that the supplies should be
purchased in considerable quantities
(2) that they should be purchased
early and prepared before the begin
ming of the busy a on the farm,
and (3). that contracts should be
made on a cash basis"
70 mltS GswI Pay, use Sharples Cream Separa-
0rs: BOOK Business Dairying" Il Cat. 25 free