68 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1917. 



The average price charged per ton for superphosphate was £4 7s. 6d., 

 and the amount of money distributed gratis by the superphosphate 

 manufacturers to the Victorian producer during the year, m the form 

 of excess phosphoric acid and excess weight, would be, approximately, 

 £35,000. 



It should be borne in mind that the average guarantee of super- 

 phosphate placed on the market during the past season compares unfavor- 

 ably with that of the previous year, although the average analysis of the 

 collected samples in 1915-16 is higher than in 1914-15. (See Journal, 

 10th January, 1916.) 



Computing average analysis and price from the bone fertilizer 

 (bone) and superphosphate samples collected, the following figures are 

 obtained : — 



Bone Ferttlizee and Superphosphate. 



A reference to last year's figures (this Journal, 10th January, 1916) 

 are pai'ticularly interesting In that the average values agree closely, 

 whereas the analyses of the previous year's samples are higher. 



Farmers should remember that the unit values for the year, which 

 form the basis of all monetary calculations, are commercial values, and 

 are the actual values placed u}x>n the essential fertilizing elements or 

 compounds by the manufacturers themselves. 



"The unit values are calculated anuuall-y by the Chemist for Agricul- 

 ture from the figures supplied to him by the manufacturers -when regis- 

 tering the brands of the simple manures manufactured or imported by 

 tiiem, and which they intend to sell during the year. 



When the farmer asks the manufacturer to mix two or more of these 

 simple fertilizers for him, he must understand that he will be required 

 to pay for the cost of mixiiio-. With the pres^ent high cost of labour, 

 this is an item of import^ance, and, afthough the manufacturers mix 

 with the aid of machinery, the increased cost" of the fertilizer, "bone 

 and super.," which must be placed at the door of the mixing process, is 

 approximately iOs. per ton. 



In certain parts of the State farmers reside in close proximitv to a 

 bone mill, and they would be well advised in this case if they obtained 

 the bonedust or bone fertilizer from the local mill, and mixed this with 

 a given proportion of superphosphate on the farm. 



By doing this the cost of mixing and the freiglit on the bonedust are 

 saved. On the other hand, the farmer has to supply his own time. 



