46 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL 



Special Fertilizers or " Formulas." 



Thirty-one samples of this class of nitrogenous superphosphates 

 have been analyzed during the year; a part of them for private 

 parties. The analyses and valuations of those which have general 

 interest are given on pages 44 and 45. Numbers 989 and 1000 

 are Lawn Fertilizers. The demand for them is relatively small 

 and they are usually sold in lots of 100 to 200 lbs. Ton prices 

 are not given. 



Leaving out of account these lawn fertilizers, the average cost 

 of 23 special fertilizers has been $49.98, the average estimated 

 value 142.53 and the difference between cost and valuation $7.45. 



For the last four years the average cost and the difference 

 between cost and valuation have been as follows : 



1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 



Cost, 48.00 48.04 50.22 49.98 



Difference between cost and 



valuation, 3.35 4.93 3.29 7.45 



It will be noticed that the average difference between the cost 

 and valuation of the special fertilizers is about one dollar per ton 

 more than what it is in the case of the ammoniated superphos- 

 phates : that is, the fertilizing ingredients have beeji cheaper the 

 past year in the latter than in the former goods. 



On page 47 is a table compiled from all the analyses of the 

 sj^ecial manures there named, which have been made in this Sta- 

 tion and in the New Jersey Station since 1878. It shows the 

 avei'age composition of each brand as well as the fluctuations in 

 the composition of each. It also shows that there is no uniform 

 and striking difference between the composition of fertilizers 

 which are claimed to be specially adapted to the demands of one 

 particular crop and the Composition of those made for another 

 crop. The term " special" is meaningless and there is no appar- 

 ent reason for calling one of the samples an Onion manure rather 

 than a corn or potato manure, for it would be impossible for any 

 one to decide from its composition either what crop it was best 

 suited for, or for what crop its manufacturer designed it. The 

 special manures are to be regarded simply as superphosphates of 

 higher grade than others. Their cost is greater, their estimated 

 value is higher, and pound for pound they may fairly be expected 

 to produce a larger yield than goods of lower grade. 



