102 Report of the Chemist of the 



ready mixed. The main consideration that presents itself as be- 

 tween purchasing mixed and unmixed forms of plantrfood is the 

 question of economy. What do the figures published above show 

 on this" point ? 



(a) Each pound of nitrogen in mixed fertilizers costs the farmer 

 in this State this year 21 cents, on an average, while the schedule 

 price is 14 cents. Hence, on an average, farmers paid for their 

 nitrogen in mixed goods, at least one and one-half times as much 

 as it would have cost them in unmixed forms. 



(6) Each pound of available phosphoric acid in mixed fertilizers 

 costs the farmer 6 1-2 cents and in dissolved phosphate, pur- 

 chased from retail dealers, it costs not quite 5 cents; while, pur- 

 chased at schedule prices, it would be 4 1-2 cents; but as a matter 

 of fact farmers were able to purchase available phosphoric acid in 

 the form of dissolved rock for 3 1-2 cents and even less, or at 

 about one-half the price which they paid for it in mixed fertilizers. 



In this connection, it may be well to state that soluble phos- 

 phoric acid has the same value, pound for pound, whatever its 

 source. At present dissolved rock is the cheapest source and this 

 is the form in which farmers should buy phosphoric acid, if they 

 desire to receive the largest amount of actual plant-food for their 

 money. 



(c) Each pound of potash, mostly in form of muriate, costs the 

 farmer 6 3-4 cents in mixed fertilizers, while in one sample of 

 muriate purchased the cost was 4 cents. 



It can readily be seen that, in point of economy, under the con- 

 ditions actually prevailing at present, farmers can buy their plant- 

 food at much lower prices in unmixed forms than in mixed goods, 

 even when purchasing from retail agents. 



(3) How can plant-food be purchased most cheaply? 



If each farmer by himself buys plant-food, he can undoubtedly 

 secure most economical results by getting unmixed materials. 

 Still better prices can be realized by cooperation. Attention was 

 called in Bulletin ISTo. 94 to the Riverhead Town Agricultural 



