EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 253 



However, it should be clearly understood that a station valuation 

 does not represent the proper retail price of the fertilizer at the point 

 of consumption. It does represent the cash cost, at the larger fertilizer 

 centers of the middle west, of an amount of nitrogen, available phos- 

 ])horic acid and potash in unmixed, standard raw materials of good 

 (juality, corresponding with the same amount found in one ton of the 

 fertilizer in question. 



The difference between the selling price and valuation is represented 

 by the cost of storing, grinding, bagging, hauling and freighting the 

 goods, commissions to agents and dealers, bad debts, depreciation of ma- 

 chinery, interest on investment, etc. The percentage of difference be- 

 tween the valuation and selling price should not be more than 35 or 40. 



Commercial valuations are useful to show whether a fertilizer is 

 Avorth its guaranteed money value. Purchasers will often find them 

 useful in comparing the relative values of similar brands offered by 

 different manufacturers. 



The commercial valuation bears no relation to the agricultural value 

 of a fertilizer, this is measured only by the increased yield of crop due 

 to its use. 



The mixing of the ingredients of which a fertilizer is composed does 

 not increase their crop-producing power, they would produce the same 

 effect if applied separately. The mixing simply lessens the labor of 

 applying the materials. 



Following are the names of parties from whose stocks samples were 

 drawn : 



Adair — C. H. Lipke. 



Adrian — Cutler, Dickerson & Co., W. R. Bradish, C. C. Van Doren. 



Almont — Frank Bishop, J. Eastman. 



Armada — Bailey & Ruby. 



Azalia — Calvin Critchett, Fred Banchman. 



Battle Creek — Robert Binder, J. E. Moon. 



Bay City — Goodeyne & Shindler. 



Benton Harbor— B. M. Nowlen & Co., C. E. & C. H. Hilton. 



Blissfield— Continental Sugar Co., M Wolverton, W. A. Wortley. 



Brown City — John H. Linck, J. C. Dean. 



Capac— Lang Bros. 



Carlton — L. J. Guermann, 0. H. Reiser, Geo. Hoerl, B. Moore, Elmer 

 Hoyt, Gorden Wager. 



Charlotte — Colburn & Fulton Lumber Co. 



Clayton — E. H. Hutchins. 



Coloma — J. T. Vanderveer, Wm. Stratton, Rube Hazen. 



Coopersville — Lang Bros., Reynolds Bros. 



Covert — J. R. Speilman & Co. 



Croswell — Sandusky Grain Co. 



Davison — Burroughs & Wolohan Elec. Co., Downer & Fairchilds, R. 

 E. Moss, J. F. Cortright. 



Deerfield — Frank Timmins. 



Disco — J. W. Switzer. 



Detroit — The Lohrman Seed Co. 



Dryden — Frank Bartlett. 



Dundee — W. R. Haines, S. H. Reynolds. 



