372 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



more or less since the latest schedule of prices, adopted by com- 

 petent authorities, was published. At least, none have fallen under 

 my observation made within ten years or more, with the exception 

 that Prof. Johnson in a recent report uses the prices adopted by 

 him in 1857-8, with the remark that they will serve to compare the 

 worth of various fertilizers now in the market one with another, and 

 by adding the diflerence between gold and currency will not be far 

 from present values. But while it is a fact that -the commercial 

 value of insoluble phosphoric acid has remained nearly stationary 

 (allowance being made for variations in currency), that of soluble 

 phosphoric acid has advanced somewhat, and that of ammonia or 

 soluble nitrogen, has advanced still more. 



Having conferred with the committee which reported the bill 

 which has now become a law in this State, I may speak with con- 

 fidence so far as this : that it was their intention to place the values 

 as a whole, at figures which would fully cover the actual commer- 

 cial values at the time of the enactment, and at the same time would 

 make a close approach thereto. How nearly this purpose was 

 accomplished we may briefly consider. 



With regard to a valuation for potash I will only remark, that 

 in the form of wood ashes it commands a much higher price than 

 formerly, and that its agricultural value is so generally understood 

 and appreciated, that the limited supply is quickly taken up in 

 every neighborhood where it is produced, so that it cannot be 

 considered an article of commerce. Neither am I aware of any 

 form in which potash occurs in commerce where the price which 

 it brings for other uses is not greater than Maine farmers can 

 afford to pay. For this reason, and also because it is not men- 

 tioned in the law we are considering, no attempt will be made 

 here to afiix a price.* 



thoir lack of familiarity with business operations, and conseqnent failure to include the 

 expenses attending them. They are not the men likely to consider that purchases and 

 manufacture rnupt go on the year rnuprl ivhilo snles are confined to a brief period in each 

 year, thus involving the employment of many times more capital to do a given amount 

 of business than in one where sales are frequent and quickly follow production; nor the 

 expenses attending sales and collections, storage of large amounts, heavy transportation, 

 insurance, taxes, losses, depreciation of buildings and machinery, and the numerous 

 other items which must be incurred. These all form as legitimate a part of a fair selling 

 price as the cost of raw materials and labor. 



* .J. Lawrence Smith, United States Commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1867, 

 says in his Report: " In 1802 the chloride of potassium (its cheapest form in commerce, 

 and containing forty-six per cent.) averaged a little over $100 per ton, making real 



