INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 5 



Superphosphate, which is the principal source of available phosphoric acid 

 has shown a small decline in price during the season, but has recovered with 

 the advent of the fall trade and is now quoted at 25c per ton above the six 

 months' average for 1936. 



The three potash salts quoted have shown an average increase in cost of 

 about 11% over the six months' average for 1936 and on September 27 were 

 showing a considerable increase over the average quotations prevailing for the 

 six months ending March 1, 1937. 



From this summary it would not be surprising if a small advance in price 

 of mixed commercial fertilizer prevailed for 1938. 



The fertilizer trade values are based on average wholesale quotations of 

 fertilizer chemicals and unmixed materials, as taken from trade journals for 

 six months ending March 1, 1937, to which 20 percent has been added for 

 overhead. When appropriate, an additional allowance has also been made for 

 bags, labor, and transportation. 



FERTILIZER TONNAGE 

 Tonnage of Mixed and Unmixed Fertilizers Sold in Massachusetts 



There were 9,793 tons more fertilizer sold in the state in 1937 than during 

 the previous year. The tonnage of mixed fertilizer was 4,845 more, and that 

 of the fertilizer chemicals and unmixed materials was 4,839 more than for 1936. 

 Pulverized manures showed an increase of 109 tons. Of the total tonnage 

 sold, 65.33 percent was mixed fertilizer, 32.32 percent was unmixed materials, 

 and 2.35 percent was dried and pulverized natural manures. 



Plant Food Tonnage 



* Does not include plant food tonnage of fertilizer mixed for special orders. 



There were 2,142 more tons of plant food sold in the state than during 1936, 

 of which 504 tons were nitrogen, 1,121 tons available phosphoric acid, and 

 517 tons potash. 



There were 15,036 tons of plant food sold, of which 28 percent was nitrogen, 

 43 percent available phosphoric acid, and 29 percent potash. Mixed fertilizers 

 furnished 67.5 percent of the plant food, chemicals and unmixed materials 31.8 

 percent, and pulverized manures 0.7 percent. 



