932 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pomace varied from 15 to 20.1 cts. An unnsuiilly hig-h porcentago of 

 chlorin was found in samples of sulphate of potash examined, some of 

 these containing- over 14 per cent of muriate of potash. It is recom- 

 mended that this material should be purchased onl_y on a guaranty of 

 not over 2 per cent of chlorin. In 9 samples of muriate of potash 

 examined the percentage of potash varied from 43.97 to 5-4.18, the cost 

 per pound of the potash from 4.0 to 4.8 cts., averaging 4.3 cts. The 

 average cost of the bone manures examined was $27.08 per ton, the 

 average valuation $25.51. In of the 25 brands examined the per- 

 centage of nitrogen was less than that guaranteed, in 4 the same was 

 true of the percentage of phosphoric acid. The valuation of 4 of 

 the 6 samples of dry iish examined was higher than the cost, "indica- 

 ting that during the present year, as was also the case last .year, dried 

 fish had been a cheap source of nitrogen and phosphoric acid.*" Of 

 the 90 samples of nitrogenous superphosphates examined 15 were 

 below the manufacturers'' minimum guaranty in respect to one ingre- 

 dient, and 3 in respect to two ingredients. The average cost of the 

 superphosphates was $30, the average valuation $19.75. Of 100 sam- 

 ples of special manures examined 14 did not fulfill the manufacturers' 

 guaranty in respect to one ingrediejit and 2 were deficient in respect 

 to two ingredients. The average cost of these manures was $32.73, 

 the valuation $22.49. Analyses of 41 samples of cotton-hull ashes 

 are reported. 



"The liighest percentage of water-soluble potash is 28.12 and the lowest 11.45. 

 Excluding the latter — found in goods which were sold at a low price because of their 

 inferior quality — the lowest percentage was 13.29 and the average of 40 samples was 

 19.89 per cent, nearly 3 per cent lower than last year. 



"Allowing 4^, 4, and 2 cts. per pound for water-soluble, citrate-soluble, and insol- 

 uVjle phosphoric acid, the cost of water-soluble potash, in cotton-hull ashes, has 

 ranged from 10.9 to 5.1 cts. per pound and has averaged 7.5 cts., eight-tenths of a cent 

 more per pound than last year." 



The water-soluble potash in 19 samples of wood ashes examined 

 varied from 2.38 to 0.09 per cent, averaging 4.32 per cent. 



Most of the nitrogenous fertilizers examined during the year were 

 tested, as to availability of the nitrogen, by the pe])sin-hydrochloi'ic 

 acid method. The results are summarized in the following tal)le: 



Solubility of nitrogen of fertilizers in pejmn-hydrochlorir acid. 



Blood 



Cotton-.seed meal 

 Castor pomace... 



Bone 



Tankage 



Fish 



Bone •and potash. 

 Superphosphates. 

 Special fertilizers 



