INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 5 



COLLECTION OF SAMPLES. 



Beginning April 1 and continuing for about ten weeks, four sampling agents, 

 using automobiles, made the usual collection of samples for inspection purposes. 

 The assignment of the various counties was as follows: James T. Howard, 

 Berkshire, Frankhn, Hampshire and Hampden; George H. Kelton, Worcester; 

 Thomas A. Hamilton, Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth; Alfred G. 

 Brigham, Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk. 



The following statistics are noted with reference to the drawing of fertilizer 

 samples: 20,485 sacks were sampled, representing 7,428 tons of material; 194 

 towns were visited, besides 100 or more suburban districts not included in this 

 number; 1 ,646 samples, representing 541 distinct brands, were drawn from stock 

 in the possession of 498 agents or owners; 356 other agencies were visited where 

 no samples were secured, some of them having discontinued the sale of fertilizers, 

 others reporting all sold out, and still others not yet having received their fer- 

 tilizer. 



COMPARATIVE COST OF FERTILIZER CHEMICALS AND UNMIXED 

 FERTILIZER PRODUCTS. 



With the exception of ammonium sulfate, practically all of the ammoniates 

 showed a fluctuation in wholesale cost during the six months preceding March 1, 

 1928, the tendency being to a higher level in all cases except the mineral sources. 

 Ammonium sulfate and nitrate of soda showed a decline of over $2 per ton as 

 compared with the preceding year. The other ammoniates showed advances 

 over the average for 1927 about as follows: tankage $6.70, fish $10, blood $14, 

 cottonseed meal $10.85. Bone meal showed a decline in price between September 

 1927 and March 1928 of about $3, yet on the average it was about $2.70 above 

 the price for the same period in 1927. Superphosphate 16% held steady at 

 $8.71 per ton f.o.b. Baltimore in bulk, which was sUghtly under the average for. 

 the previous season. Potash salts showed no fluctuation in price for the six 

 months preceding March 1, 80% muriate being quoted at wholesale for $36.40 

 and 90% sulfate at $47.30. Both were about 50 cents per ton above quotations 

 for the same period in 1927. 



At this writing, November 20, the only quotation to be found in the Oil, Paint 

 & Drug Reporter on ammonium sulfate is for bulk, resale material, at $47, which 

 would indicate a wholesale price for bagged product about the same as for Novem- 

 ber 1927. Nitrate of soda is quoted at $2,175 per 100 pounds in bags, which 

 would be equivalent to $43.50 per ton wholesale; this would indicate a drop of 

 about $5 per ton for this product. Tankage, 10 ammonia and 15 bone phosphate 

 of lime (6.86% P2O5), is about $1.75 under the average price for November 1927, 

 being quoted at $49, bulk, f.o.b. Chicago. Fish scrap dried, 11 ammonia and 

 6.86 phosphoric acid, is about $2.20 under the average ton price for November 

 1927, the quotation being $60.90, bulk, at factory. Cottonseed meal, 7% ammo- 

 nia, registers an advance of $4.25 per ton over November price in 1927. Dried 

 blood, 15 ammonia, present quotations about same as for November 1927. 

 Acid phosphate 16% is $2 per ton higher than for either November 1927 or for 

 the six months ending March 1, 1928, being quoted at $10.50, bulk, f.o.b. Balti- 

 more. Potash salts show no change from the previous season. If present 

 prices for crude stock fertilizing materials prevail, there should be very little 

 difference in the price of mixed fertilizers for 1929 as compared with the previous 

 season, the drop in price for most ammoniates offsetting the advance in price of 

 superphosphate. 



The following average quotations were compUed from data secured from the 

 Oil, Paint & Drug Reporter and Chemical Markets: 



