Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11

ther group Of soil organisms living IN
humus draw largely upon the air for
nitrogen and thus enrich the soil Neither
Of these groups develop In sour soil.
or in one too heavy. Such soils are poor
because bacterial transformations OF
plant food and bacterial fixation of
atmospl eric nitrogen cannot occur. Sour
soils should he swoctcnod with lime and
heavy soils loosenod by rrCrer treatment
which varies with the conditions
n. \. EDISON.
Racteriologist. W. EXP. station.
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER INSfEC-
| Commercial fertilizer furnish nitro
gen. phosphoric acid and potash to the
soil in such form as Geo,
taken up by plants.
Fertilizer inspection has been car
ried on in Vermont since 1852. The
/ fertilizer law may be found in Chap
ter 2i3 Public statutes. sections 4.s'3
! 49S2 4oSa 1893. Lake similar en-
actments applying to feeding stuffs
and human foods. It's real object is to
require that manufacturers state
what they sell and sell what they
state"
The present fertilizer inspection Il
financed by fees paid by the manufac-
turer Among other things. the law
% requires Il plain guaranty state
ment as to nitrogen. phosphoric acio
and potash contents OF each package:
Col the trade name of the goods; and
90 manufacturers name and address:
a. u prohibits the use Of inferior
ammou!ates. 90 provides for prosecu
ton in case guarantees are not main
tanned: and, 90 provides for the pub
LEGATION of the results of inspection
together with such additional inform
alton as to character, composition.
value and use. as circumstances ad
wise.
The yearly trade In Vermont approx
imates $4,000 tons worth q half mil
lion dollars
RESULTS OF FERTILIZER INSPEC-
TON
The trade is run on sound business
principles.
Multiplicity Of brands reduced
Guarantees are better maintained.
Liability Of fraud is reduced to q
minimum
Publication in bulletin form Of the
results Of inspection work has re-
Gently served SO to instruct the farm
er that he is to-day moro critical az
TO what fertilizer he buys and why
he buys IL, than ever before.
c. IT, JONES.
Chemist. ". EXP Sta.
: COMMERCIAL. FERTILIZER BUYING
Vermont farmers pay S5o 900 annual,
service (freght, mixing, profits. etc.
Some pay twice as much for plant foot
r as do others These are usually thos,
who buy low grade and cheap goods
which carry large amounts OF dlutins
+ material.
: Why pay double charges
: Why pay freight rates on dirt?
y 1t is not difficult 10 make more rationa
h purchases than 10 many farmers. To tina
end:
= l. Estimate your home manurial re
h sources
Y . study your soil and crop needs.
!: ?. Think OF your purchase not as s,
j. much "phosphate" hut OF its content
V Of three efficient plant foods-nitrogen
n phosphoric aciil and potash
n L. Note the manufacturers guarantee
< and compare them with your soil an'
y, crop needs and your home nanural sup
y plies.
IL, :; One to four being determined com
pare selling prices ana valuations am
. buy as much as you can for a givel
sum- not OF "phC sphate" but OF plan
!. food
The high grades usually furnish In
cheapest plant food but they are not al
ways the wisest purchases because o
II the relatively large amount of nitrogen
: they are apt To carry. \ dairy fnrme
< who buys concentrated feeds need no
n bay excessive amounts Of nitrogen j
is commercial fert,lizcr.
r How may the various grades he deter
l. mined Most easily and with fair cor
k tainty ny their nitrogen ana potash con
L. tents Low grades rarely carry muc
J. more than 1cc nitrogen or than 90 potash
s. high grades rarely carry less than %,
nitrogen or Z to per cent potash.
Fertilizer bulletins are not easy reading
but their study repays him who buy
fertilizers IN more than small quantities
:, Co-oncrative buving Is worth considering
@ II is largely prac,ised and to good ad
vantage Lakeside Grange. ST. Alban,
Tins buvs or 3 carloads this year.
J. l.. HILLS.
\ DesN agricultural Dep
.r,rI,pNnnN cEuo,ON,