08 Report of the Chemist of the 



These trade values represent, as nearly as can be estimated, the 

 average prices at which, during the six months preceding March, 

 the respective ingredients, in the form of unmixed raw materials, 

 could be bought at retail for cash in our large markets. These 

 prices also correspond (except in case of available phosphoric acid) 

 to the average wholesale prices for the six months preceding 

 March plus about 20 per cent in case of goods for which there are 

 wholesale quotations. 



Trade- Values of Plant-Food Elements in Raw Materials and Chemicals. 



18P8. 



Cts. per 

 pound. 



Nitrogen in ammonia salts 14 



Nitrogen in nitrates 13 



Organic nitrogen in dry and fine-ground fish, meat and blood, 



mixed fertilizers 14 



Organic nitrogen in cotton-seed meal and castor-pomace 12 



Organic nitrogen in fine-ground bone and tankage 13y 2 



Organic nitrogen in coarse bone and tankage 10 



Phosphoric acid, water-soluble 4% 



Phosphoric acid, citrate-soluble 4 



Phosphoric acid in fine-ground fish, bone and tankage 4 



Phosphoric acid in coarse fish, bone and tankage 3Va 



Phosphoric acid in cotton-seed meal, castor-pomace and wood 



ashes 4 



Phosphoric acid in mixed fertilizers, insoluble iu ammonium 



citrate 2 



Potash as high-grade sulphate, in forms free from muriates 



(chlorides), in ashes, etc , 5 



Potash in muriate 4% 



COMPARISON OF SELLING PRICE AND COMMERCIAL VALUATION. 



Giving to the different constituents the values assigned in the 

 schedule for mixed fertilizers, 14 cents a pound for nitrogen, 4 1-2 

 cents a pound for water-soluble phosphoric acid, 4 cents a pound 

 for citrate soluble phosphoric acid, 2 cents a pound for insoluble 

 phosphoric acid, and 4 1-4 cents a pound for potash, we can calcu- 

 late the commercial valuation, or the price, at which the separate 

 unmixed materials contained in one ton of fertilizer, having the 

 composition indicated in the preceding table, could be purchased 

 for cash at retail at the seaboard. Knowing the retail prices at 



