50 THE CONNECTICUT AGEICULTUEAL 



ton, while calculated in the usual way it is $20.78. The diffei'- 

 ence, 72 cents, is inconsiderable ; less than might be expected 

 between two samples of the same brand. 



Even where the bone is unmixed with a dryer or adiilterant, it 

 may often happen that the proportions of nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid are not the same in the finer and coarser portions. 



There is, however, a limit beyond which it is useless to attempt 

 to refine the processes of valuation. When they become too 

 complicated or costly, they defeat the object which they should 

 serve. It is sufficient that the erroi's of valuation are no greater 

 than those which arise from unavoidable variations in different 

 portions of the same lot of fertilizer, or in different lots of the 

 same brand. A difference of two or three dollars between cost 

 and estimated value cannot ordinarily demonstrate that either is 

 out of the way. 



Bone Ma?^uees. 



Analyses. 



The analyses and valuations of 23 samples will be found on 

 pages 52 and 53. 



986 "was quite wet, which explains its low percentage of nitro- 

 gen and phosphoric acid. It would be excellent material for 

 composting or immediate application to land, but could not be 

 transported far nor stored without loss. 



939 is a waste j^roduct from the glue factory. A large part of 

 the nitrogenous animal matter has been extracted, leaving it poor 

 in nitrogen and coiTespondingly rich in phosphoric acid. It retails 

 in New York at $30.00 per ton, and freight to Southport is ll.OO ; 

 but farmers, by making up an order for a lot of 10 tons, got it for 

 $29.50 on the dock at Southport. 



985 is very coarse, 90 per cent, of it being held on a sieve with 

 one-sixth inch meshes. It is doubtful if it deserves as high a 

 valuation as has been given it. 



1016 is manufactured by the Adamson process. The water 

 and grease are nearly or entirely removed by the vapor of ben- 

 zine, leaving the bone dry, brittle and porous. 



The average cost per ton of ground bone in the samples 

 examined this year is $35.88 ; the average estimated value, $32.95 ; 

 and the difference between cost and valuation, $2.93. 



