<·     g ‘ 54 _ Buzzetm No. .191. I i .
g   · _   the use of limestone and phosphates on most Kentucky soils
  j  A if 1 before potash, even if potash is to be used at all.
  i l Let us see what the commercial aspects ofthe fore- ·
i lqlji going teachings are so far as the farmer is concerned. It *
  · ~ · means that if he wishes to use acid phosphate he
  _ will buy it wherever he can get it in good mechanical _
tf.  l , condition at the lowest price per pound for the phosphorus
} 0   contained. If he wants to use potash he will buy it wherever
  ‘ he can get it at the lowest price. Likewise for. materials
  ·—‘i·’   T · carrying nitrogen. Formulas should not worry him. Ifhe _
  wants to use more than one element and wants to mix the H
   i Q materials for convenience in application (this is the only -
    advantage in mixing) then he should determine how much
1 .',.   __s‘   f of each element of plant food he wants to use per acre, .
  · and use the necessary amount of materials to provide
  T the desired plant food, regardless of what percentages 1
  the mixture might contain. Objection may be made that .
;.j§iZi‘¥ the farmer cannot get _unmixed materials in good me- ‘
  chanical condition. He does get acid phosphate and bone _
  meal in good mechanical condition. He can get dried blood _
  and tankage in good condition. The only materials apt to be _
  lumpy are potash salts and nitrate of soda. lt is possible _
  1 however to buy these. reground in good mechanical condi- V
  tion. Of course on standing they may become lumpy again.
  Grinders and mixers may now be bought which can be l
  run by hand or with a small engine., V `
  A study of the mixed fertilizers sold in this State in 1909 _ _
  showed that they sold for $6 to $10 per ton more than the ,
  retail prices- of the materials of which they were made.  
  (See Bul. 140, page 61). The cost of mixing fertilizers is not I
  very great. The remainder of the difference between the cost  
  of the unmixed materials and the mixed goods goes to cover `
  cost of advertising, agents’ commissions, local dealers' profits,  _ 1
  _ extending credit, with some extra share of profits for the 1
  V manufacturers. We are not recommending home—mixing T ,
  except when fertilizers of the desired composition cannot 1
  be had at a fair price. T g
  »
 
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