EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 347 



IV. Valuation of Fertilizers and Fertilizer 



Analyses. 



The valuation of commercial fertilizers is based on the 

 market value of their essential constituents. The market 

 reports of New York and Boston, aside from consultations 

 with leading manufacturers of "fertilizers, furnish us the 

 necessary information. 



The statements of trade values adopted in the reports are 

 obtained by taking the average of New York and Boston 

 wholesale quotations of the six months preceding March 1, 

 1883, and increasing them by 20 per cent, to cover expenses 

 for storage, sales, etc. 



The prices stated in connection with analyses of commer- 

 cial fertilizers refer, therefore, to their cost per ton of 2,000 

 pounds, on board of car or boat. 



Crude stock for the manufacture of fertilizers, and refuse 

 material of various descriptions, sent to the Station for 

 examination, are valued with reference to the market prices 

 of their principal constituents, taking into consideration at 

 the same time their general fitness for speedy action. 



The mechanical condition of any fertilizing material, simple 

 or compound, deserves the most serious consideration of 

 farmers when articles of a similar chemical character are 

 offered for their choice. The degree of pulverization con- 

 trols, almost without exception, under similar conditions, 

 the rate of solubility, and the more or less rapid diffusion of 

 the different articles of plant-food throughout the soil. 



The state of moisture exerts a no less important influence 

 on the pecuniary value, in case of one and the same kind of 

 substance. Two samples of fish fertilizer, although equally 

 pure, may differ from 50 to 100 per cent, in commercial 

 value on account of mere difference in moisture. 



As existing laws of the State for control of the trade 

 in commercial fertilizers provides for the examination of 

 licensed articles, the attention of the Station has been 

 directed mainly towards the examination of agricultural 

 chemicals, the crude stock for the mauufacture of commer- 



