696 ANNUAL RZPGRT CF THE Off. Doc. 



Fj^RTILUKR valuations— 1901. 



The object of an official valnatiun of commercial fertilizers is to 

 enable the consumer to jiul^t.' approximately whether he has been 

 nskcd to ]i\\ for a given brand more than the fertilizing ingredients 

 it contains and market conditions prevailing at the time would war- 

 lant. It is clear, therefore, that no attempt is made in this valuation 

 to indicate whether the fertilizer valued possesses a greater or less 

 crop-producing capacity than another fertilizer; but only whether it 

 is higher priced than another of the same general composition. 



For this purpose it must be so computed as to include all the 

 elements entering into ihe cost of a fertilizer as it in delivered to the 

 consumer. These elements may be conveniently grouped as fol- 

 lows: 



1. The wholesale cost of the ingredients. 



2. The jobbers' gross profit on the sale of the ingredients; this 

 includes office expenses, advertising, losses, etc.; for the purpose of 

 the preseut computation it may be .'issumed that the sum of this gross 

 profit and the wholesale cost of the ingredients, is equivalent to the 

 retail price of the single ingredients near the wholesale markets in 

 ton lots of original packages for ctisli. 



[]. The CNpcnse and j)iofit of mixing: This item applies only to 

 complete feriilizirs, icck and potash, and ammoni.dted rock; not to 

 disiJi/ivc^d or ground lone, oi- to dissolved rock. 



4. Tlie ex} ense and jnofit of ba^Lnng. 



o. Agents' commissicsn: This ;t(i.i includes not only the commis- 

 sion proper, but eveiy advance in j'licc due to the s.'Te of the goods 

 through an agent in snir.ll qnantilles on time, rather than directly 

 to the consumer in ton lots for cash. 



0. Frtight from the v.liolcsale uiaikcl Jo the point of delivery. 



The valualions for I'.XHI v.cre ba.«('d: 



3. L'pon the v.ho'erali' j)rices from September 1, 1S99, to March 1, 

 intU), of the i:nv nia1( rial.< i:sed in fertilizer manufacture, the quota- 

 tions of ;h(' New 'S'ork market being adopted for all materials except 

 acidi;h'l(d ] hosphate rock and ground bone. 



L'. I [.on an allowance of 20 per cent, of the wholesale prices, above 

 mentioned, to cover jobbers' profits. 



T^y adding the 20 per cent, allowed for jobbers' gross profit to the 

 wholesale T)rice of the several raw materials, the retail price in 

 original packages at the jobbers' v.arehouse is obtained. 



