658 



Report on Inspection Work of the 



look cheap in comparison with the cost of complete fertilizers; and 

 many farmers still consider cheapness only, and not composition, in 

 purchasing fertilizers. 



Of the 1000 fertilizers analyzed, 117, or nearly 12 per ct., are those 

 containing phosphoric acid and potash. In the table following, we 

 give data that show the composition, selling price, commercial valua- 

 tion, and the cost of one pound of phosphoric acid and of potash. 



Table IV. — Amount and Cost of Phosphoric Acid and Potash in 



Special Mixtures. 



(1) From the data in the foregoing table, it is obvious that in respect 

 to cost of plant-food, the lowest prices are about the same as those 

 found in medium high-grade complete fertilizers and the same is true 

 of the highest prices. Taking the average prices of phosphoric acid 

 (5.6 cents) and of potash (5.9 cents), they are somewhat higher than 

 those found in complete high-grade mixtures and a little lower 

 than those found in complete medium high-grade mixtures. 

 Stated in another way, the cost of phosphoric acid and potash 

 in mixtures of acid phosphate and muriate of potash averages 

 less than in the different grades of complete fertilizers except 

 high-grade fertilizers. 



(2) The selling prices of mixtures of acid phosphate and potash 

 salts are subject to much wider variations than is justified by variation 

 in composition. For example, one such mixture, containing 10.51 

 per ct. of phosphoric acid and 7.77 per ct. of potash, was sold for 

 $16.20, while another, containing 9.88 per ct. of phosphoric acid and 

 2 per ct. of potash was sold for $22. 



