Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-01-29
Home Mixing of Fertilizers.


go into a fertilizer in satisfactory
way. That is to say, if a farmer
wished to makea lO.4 acid phos-
phate and potash mixture. he can
not possibly mix tie two ingredi-
ents so they will run in regular
way. Now, if a farmer wished
1900 pounds, which would analyize
1914, he could take 1880 pounds of
l6 per cent. acid phosphate and CIT
pounds of kalnit and mix thorough
ly and he would have 1927 pounds.
If he wished an even ton he could
add 73 pounds of dry dirt or any
of anything else which would do
for filler. II he wished to get
the same grade from II per cent
acid, he would have to take l.428
pounds of acid phosphate and 667
pounds of kainit and this mixture
would give him 2,O95 pounds in
stead of an exact ton.
Any farmer can mix the acid and
ksinit thoroughly with hoe and
| shovel. The work would be 30
thoroughly done that samples taken
from different ends of the sack
would show little difference in the
analysis. The cost of acid phos-
phate and kainit in either case
would be about $l4.25 to $l4. 75,
according to the price of the mate
rial. Now if the farmer should 60
to the dealer for the 1914 he would
pay sls. That is, he would have
to pay SO for the mixing, which he
could do as well at home.
The farmer who uses only a ton
or two and who does not understand
what his land or special crop needs
should not attempt to do the NIX
ing unless he does the work under
the advice and instruction Of some
one who understands the business.
Such men should buy just what
they can get from their local dealer.
But the farmer, who uses ten tons
up, can afford to mix to suit each
1lotsof land and each crop. He
J Eonghtto be able Il nre ut lust
I what amounts Of each ingredient
will be needed TO give the desired
analysis.
If there is a field with tilin. san
dy soil after breaking the hard pan
and putting iu good condition. pot
ash and nitrogen would be needed.
On such land there should be at
least per cent. of potash and
nearly as much nitrogen. On land
recently clea. ed, or with a good
heavy sod or stubble turned under,
more phosphoric acid would BE-
needed and less potash and nitro.
gen. The farmer should study the
analysis of his mature crops, so
that he would know which kind OF
plant food was demanded. Our
school books need amending some
what. A few such questions a
these would have practical mean
ing for the boys. How much acid
phosphate and kainit should be
mixed to get an Sc mixture: How
much filler to the ton, if any, was
necessary: How much l6 per cent.
acid, muriate Of potash and cotton
seed meal should be used to give a
a-5--3 mixture: What is the &C.
tual value aud weight Of available
plant food in a ton of fertilizer
which contains per cent of phos-
phoric acid, per cent. of potash
and 9 per cent. of ammonia? That
chapter should be added to arith'
metics, so thatyoung farmers could
make their own calculations and
mix fertilizers SO As to get special
grades.
The Value of Cotton Seed Meal.
Wise il that farmer who eX
changes his cotton seed for meal.
If he feeds it to cattle and saves all
he manure and distributes it event. y
he will get double pay, for it is es-
timated that manure will be equal
to the cost of the meal, for the
hay and other forage and bedding
goes in with the manure. But the
following suggestions are for the
farmers who use the meal without
feeding.
In buying acid phosphate and
potash, lis cheaper TO buy the Ii
per cent. acid and muriate OF potash.
In buying 4 ton OF kalnlt one gets
$50 pounds of available potash.
A ton of muriate of potash con-
taihs 1000 pounds, or five times
as much, and the freight is the