268 



Feeds and Feeding. 



The market value of commercial fertilizers is based on their 

 content of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Because of the 

 enormous quantity of fertilizers used, each of their three valuable 

 constituents has a definite market value. The average price 

 of these ingredients in the wholesale markets is as follows: Nitro- 

 gen, 15; phosphoric acid, 7, and potash 4.5 cents per pound. 

 The prices of these articles do not fluctuate any more than do 

 those of other standard articles of commerce. 



421. Valuation of fertilizer constituents in feeding stuffs. If we 

 follow the plan adopted by some Eastern Stations of placing the 

 same values on nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash in feeding- 

 stuffs that these constituents bring when sold in commercial fer- 

 tilizers, we are in a position to compare the fertilizing values of 

 the several feeding stuff's. Wheat bran and corn are compared 

 in the table below: 



Value of the fertilizing constituents in 1,000 pounds of wheat bran 



and corn. 



From the above we learn that the value of the fertilizing 

 constituents in 1,000 pounds of bran is $6.74, and in the same 

 weight of corn one-half as much, or $3.37. By doubling these 

 figures we have the following: 



Value of fertilizing constituents in one ton of wheat bran $13.48 



Value of fertilizing constituents in one ton of corn 6.74 



422. What the figures mean. The farmer will ask if it is 

 here taught that he can get returns of $13.48 by the application 

 of one ton of bran to his land as a fertilizer. Such a deduction 

 is not the purpose of these figures. They mean, however, that 



