13 

 Fertilizer Brands Showing Inferior Insoluble Organic Nitrogen. 



1 Manufacturer's explanation as follows: this was sampled from a small order made up late in the 

 season on which a mistake was made in figuring the formula so that an insufficient amount of nitrogen 

 was used. The purchaser received a rebate for the deficiency. If the mistake had not occurred, a suffi- 

 cient amount of mineral and active organic nitrogen would have been added to meet the minimum guaran- 

 tee so tiiat tlie small amount of water insoluble nitrogen derived from a conditioner would not have figured 

 in the guarantee at all. 



2 No secret is made of the fact that considerable peat is used in this mixture; the greater part of the 

 nitrogen guarantee, however (65 per cent), is apparently derived from soluble mineral sources. The nitro- 

 gen derived from peat would be very largely insoluble in water and is known to have a low activity by 

 both laboratory methods as well as a low availability when measured b.v crop growth. 



Note. — The pulverized manures, Alphano Humus and other peat products are not listed in the table. 

 They are known invariably to show a low activity of their water insoluble organic nitrogen. 



Percentage, Character and Cost of Plant Food. 



The average cost of plant food in high-analysis versus low-analysis mixtures 

 is shown in the following table: 



Cost of Plant Food 



High-Analysis 



Low-Analysis 



Average selling price of fertilizer per ton 



Average commercial valuation of fertilizer per ton 



Average money difference between selling price and valuation 



Percentage difference 



Average pound cost of — 



Mineral nitrogen (cents) 



Organic nitrogen (cents) 



Available phosphoric acid (cents) 



Potash as muriate (cents) 



$50.37 

 31.53 



18.84 

 59.75 



$43.00 

 22.05 

 20.95 

 95.01 



36.1 

 54 . 6 

 10.7 



7.8 



Determination of quality of plant food showed little significant difference 

 between that in high-analysis and that in 'low-analysis fertilizers. Entirely 

 apart from the grade or quality of the fertilizer, however, is the fact that 63 

 brands of tobacco fertilizer showed an average of .72 per cent of chlorine, 

 equivalent to 1.51 per cent of muriate of potash. 



The above table shows a greater activity of the organic nitrogen, as well 

 as a higher solubility of the phosphoric acid in the high-analysis mixtures. 

 The distinct advantage, however, in favor of the high-analysis brands seems 

 to be the greater economy in cost of plant food. When bought in high- 

 analysis goods, the pound of mineral nitrogen has cost 6.5 cents, organic 

 nitrogen 9.9 cents, available phosphoric acid 1.9 cents, and potash 1.4 cents 

 less than when bought in low-analysis goods. Applying these figures to the 

 low analysis mixtures, it is found that had the same amount of plant food 

 been bought in high-analysis brands, a saving to the farmer of $43,650 would 

 have resulted. This figure would be somewhat larger if freight, cartage and 

 handling were taken into consideration. It is poor economy to buy low- 

 analysis fertilizers. 



