FERTILIZERS. 427 



value of all sales. The sales reported in 1806 were larger than those 

 of any previous year. A comparison of the average composition of the 

 331 fertilizers examined in 189G with the averages for previous years 

 "indicates that no decided change in the average quality of fertilizers 

 has occurred during the past 12 years." 



A review of market prices of fertilizing materials for 7 years shows 

 that the difference between the wholesale and retail prices of nitrogen 

 in 1890 was 19.3 per cent. "This is a marked decrease from that of 

 last year, but is still too great. It is largely due to the low wholesale 

 prices which ruled for all ammoniates during 1890. In the case of 

 available phosphoric aeid the difference is nearly 90 per cent greater 

 than in 1895, while in potash there is a decrease of over 12 per cent." 

 The average valuation of mixed fertilizers remains about the same as 

 in previous years. "The average selling price, however, is now lower 

 than ever before, which reduces the amount of average charges for 

 mixing, bagging, shipping, and selling to $7.70 per ton, or 35.7 percent, 

 which is less in amount than in any of the previous years." The 

 average composition of 35 samples of ground bone examined during 

 the year was : Nitrogen, 3.51 per cent, and phosphoric acid, 24.07 per 

 cent, the average retail selling price being $28.88. Ten of the 35 sam- 

 ples failed to reach their guarantees in either nitrogen or phosphoric 

 acid and 1 was low in both constituents. With one exception, however, 

 any deficiency in one element was more than made up by an excess in 

 the other. 



Algerian phosphate production (Engineer, and Mining Jour., 65 (1SD8), March 12, 

 p. SIS; abs. in, Jour.. Soc. Chem. Ind., 17 (1898), No. 3, p. 201).— Statistics are reported 

 which show that the shipment of Algerian phosphate from the port of Bone in 1897 

 was 207,083 metric tons as against 110,040 tons in 1896. England, France, Germany, 

 and Italy, with 73,430, 70,155, 24,770, and 18,950 tons, respectively, were the largest 

 consumers of this product. 



Sulphate of ammonia production (Engineer, and Mining Jour., 65 (1S9S), June 18, 

 p. 730; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., 17 (1S9S), No. 6, p. 623).— The production of this 

 material in Great Britain in 1897 is stated to have heen 198,280 long tons, and in the 

 United States 3,111 tons. 



Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia (Bradbury and Hirsch's Iieport; TV. 

 Montgomery <>'• Co.'s circular; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., 17 (189S), No. l,pp.84-S6). — 

 Statistics of consumption, prices, etc., for the period from 1893-1897. 



Experiments with potassium perchlorate, Jun<;er and M. Gerlach (Jahresber. 

 Landiv. Vers. Stat. Jersltz-bei-Posen, 1S07-08, pp. 20-33). 



On the agricultural value of Solvayhall "hartsalz," M. Maercker (Illus. Landw. 

 Ztg., IS (189S),p. 618; abs. in Chem. Ztg., 22 (189S), No. 71, Bepert., p. 210).— This salt, 

 which is rich in chlorin, was compared with kaiuit and sulphate and chlorid of 

 potash in pot and held experiments. As a rule the hartsalz gave larger yields than 

 Icainit, more potash but less chlorin being taken up by plants iu case of the former 

 than in case of the latter. The potash iu the hartsalz appeared to be fully as soluble 

 as that in kaiuit and more soluble than that in sulphate. 



The law of the minimum and the effects of excessive liming, L. Grandeau 

 (Jour. Agr. Prat., 62 (1S0S), II, No. 38, pp. 405-407).— Attention is called to the neces- 

 sity of keeping limed soils well supplied with phosphoric acid, potash, aud especially 

 nitrogen. 



10222— Ko. 5 3 



