Fertilizer numbers.

[Perry Templeton]

I had a friend who had a saying for the numbers in the fertilizer. It went something like a mini-nursery rhyme. Like maybe roots, fruits, flowers. I can't remember it, and a google search didn't help. Thanks. Perry

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

Yeah, but your half rememberd rhyme is misleading. The numbers give percentages (by weight) of nitrogen (N), phosphor(P) and potassium (K).

N: for stems and leaves P: for roots K: for flowers

So may it was "shoots, roots, flowers"?

[Warren]

I believe it's "Shoots, roots, flowers and fruits."

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

Good -- that rhymes, and has a nice beat.

Now drop the first comma.... :-)

[Warren]

N Shoots, P Roots, K Flowers and Fruits.

In context, the first comma should be there. It's not a sentence. It's a list, and the comma is a list item separator.

[Leon Trollski]

Thank you for the truly insightful contribution. I don't know how I'd cope without it.

[Warren]

I was wondering the same.

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

Right, Warren, I know, now drop the comma, and parse it that way. Makes a headline-style sentence. :-)