10 Jan., 1916.] Inspection under the Artificial Fertilizers Act. 17 



annual registrations, computes, from the simple manures only, the 

 average unit value of each constituent having a commercial value. 



Whilst the present system has many disadvantages, the figures 

 obtained from the samples of fertilizers collected this year are of more 

 than ordinary interest. 



Taking the case of the simple manure Superphosphate, it Avill be 

 •noticed that not only does the average guarantee and average analysis 

 coincide almost exactly, but the difference between the price. charged for 

 the manure per ton and the average value computed from both guarantee 

 and analysis result is only a matter of Is. — that is to say, the farmer 

 on an average has received full commercial value. 



The maximum value calculated on analysis result Avas £4 13s. lOd., 

 whilst the minimum was £4 Is. 9d. per ton. 



Turning to the figures given under " Bone and Supers." we fijid a 

 different story, for, whilst the average analysis compares more than 

 favorably with the average guarantee, there is a marked difference in 

 the commercial value. Commercially the average " Bone and Super." was 

 valued at £4 19s. lOd., and Avhilst being guaranteed to be worth £4 12s. 6d., 

 the price charged per ton was £5 10s. 3d. These figures mean that the 

 farmer paid 10s. 5d. per ton for the labour entailed in mixing the two 

 manures, viz.. Bone Fertilizer and '' Super." to produce '' Bone and 

 Super." 



Again, in the case of " Bone Fertilizers," incorrectly termed the 

 " Bonedust Substitute," we find the average guarantee much below the 

 average analysis as found in collected samples, and yet the actual 

 commercial value of the samples was found to be £5 8s. per ton, whilst 

 the average price charged was £5 18s. 7d., and the guaranteed value 

 £4 15s. 9d. 



In the case of " Xitro Super." and " Blood and Bone Fertilizers," it 

 will be observed that the farmer came out with a credit balance of some 

 5s., whereas the samples of " Dissolved Bone and Super." and '^ Onion " 

 manure show a commercial loss of from 8s. to 15s. 



Summed up briefly, this year's figures advise farmers to buy Siiper- 

 phosphate, Blood and Bone Fertilizer, and iSTitro-Superphosphate ; but, 

 as the commercial value is subject to alteration from year to year, no 

 hard-and-fast rule can be laid doAvn. 



It follows that the farmer, in asking to be supplied Avith "mixed" 

 or "special" fertilizers, is fully aware of the extra trouble and labour 

 entailed in their jirepjiratioii, and consequently knows full well tliat be 

 will have to ])ay for it. 



Taking Bone Fertilizer and Superjihosphate mixed in tlie proportion 

 of 1 : 1 (i and 1), if the farmer buys the nuuiures singly and mixes 

 them himself, he will save 7s. 6d. per ton. This is the price charged for 

 the labour of mixing. 



In the case of " Tomplete " and "' Special" Fertilizers, this figure 

 is considerably higher. 



A word on the jjractice of iiKiuuiMng with iiii.xed manures. Xo 

 experiiucnts have as yet been undertaken by tlie Agricultural Department 

 in the matter of manuring with these manures, and, taking tlie potato or 

 onion crop as an example, it is a moot point as to whether the ])<)tato 

 and onion manures on the market will ]iro(luce any additional profit 

 over and above th;it jir(pduce(l by the simple nianun! su|i(>rphospluito 



