Milford chronicle., 1916-03-31
THE use AND COST OF
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS

! Some of the beliefs and practices
that have helped cast distrust on the
use Of commercial fertilizers have
come frequently to attention this year.
1t is evident that many people still
hold the belief that the use of fer
tilizer is largely a matter of guess
work and luck and that season has
more to do with success or failure
than anything else. II is often held,
too, that if one kind of fertilizer is
not at hand that any other kind will
do just as well. These beliefs are due
largely to lack of information regard
ing the exact nature of the materials
that are used in mixtures, either with
respect to their function in plant life
/ or their cost as fel tilizing ingredients.
The general term phosphate has
! been used to cover so many different
substances that it is little wonder
that there is confusion in the minds
of many people, nor is there any won
der that different kinds of fertilizers.
all sold as "phosphates," are used for
inappropriate purposes, since their
differences are rarely pointed out. In
stead of potash lime Is sometimes us
ed, or bone is used instead of the US
ual amount of potash. In some cases
such substitutiOns result in nothing
more serious than a mere failure to
get results with the current crop,
while in others, as in the addition of
lime to manure, or tankage, there
may be a more serious loss of the fer
tilizing materials themselves, owing
to unfavOrable chemical action. 1t
should be remembered that materials
used together should not only produce. |
in their mixture, desirable combina- |
tiOn of fertilizing elements for sOmel
crop, when the percentages are con-
sidered, but they should be good team |
mates, and should not work at cross
purposes.
Owing to the high cost of potash. 1t
is probably unwise this year to pay
extra for mixtures contain
ing this element. II should be remem-
bered, of course. that nearly all fer
tilizing materials have gone up in
price, and that a higher price for
mixtures Is justified, even though they
contain no potash. The point is that
when potash cost so much a farmer
can hardly afford to use it, even In
small amounts, and should take care
that the cost of his mixture is not
boosted just because It has, or is sup
posed to have, a certain amount Of
potash in it. Nitrate of soda. though
more expensive than before. Is still
the cheapest form In which
nitrogen can be purchased and 1t
should be widely used In all mixtures.
Owing to their value In helping long .
season crops. tankage. blood, fish and !
zone will always have a place. but as
ltock products Of all kinds are never
likely to fall in price, tending rather
o rise, their place In mixtures should
,e supplied more largely than before
~ animal manure and green crops, /
which, when rightfully handled. give ,
much the same results as these ex-
,ensive animal fertilizers.
Acid phosphate has long been the
most used source Of phosphorus In ,
he east, and will continue to be wide =
y used when quickly available phos- :
'hOrus is demanded. 1t is likely. how
ver, that more consideration should
,e given to raw rock, or floats, which a
will supply phosphorus more cheaply =
nd probably as we'll, when a system
tic plan Of soil improvement, invOlv-
ng the use Of manures and green
manure crops as well as commercial
ertilizers, is laid down.
W. c. PELTON. Co. Agent,
U. S. Dept. Of Agriculture