CONTROL SERIES No. 60 



597 agents or owners; 208 other agents were interviewed without samples 

 being drawn, stocks having been exhausted, or comprising only brands of 

 which a sufficient number of samples had already been drawn. 



COMPARATIVE COST OF FERTILIZER CHEMICALS AND UNMIXED 

 FERTILIZER PRODUCTS. 



The following average quotations were secured from the Oil, Paint and Drug 

 Reporter and Chemical Markets. 



Wholesale Ouotations on Chemicals and Unmixed Materials. 



With the exception of potash salts, the average wholesale price for all fer- 

 tihzer chemicals and unmixed materials has been very much less during 1931 

 than for the previous year, and a comparison of the quotations for November 2 

 with those for the six months ending March 1, 1931, reveals a most astonishing 

 price reduction, many of the products being quoted for less than at any time 

 during the past forty-five years. Only once in this long period of time has 

 nitrate nitrogen sold at a lower price than at present. In 1899 the pound of 

 nitrogen from this source was valued at 123^ cents, which would make the 

 wholesale ton cost of nitrate of soda $32.29. In 1896, and again in 1900, the 

 wholesale price was about the same as at present. Nitrogen from ammonium 

 sulfate and from the organic animal sources costs less now than at any previous 

 time. 



Regarding organic vegetable ammoniates, although they are remarkably low 

 at the present time (the pound of nitrogen from cottonseed meal costing only 

 19.1 cents), yet during a period from 1895 to 1898, inclusive, the pound of 

 nitrogen from this source was valued at only 12 cents, which would make the 

 wholesale cost of 38% protein meal at the mill only $9.87. From 1889 to 1892, 

 inclusive, and again in 1894, the pound of nitrogen from this source was valued 

 at only 15 cents. 



Superphosphate in 1914-15 was 37 cents per ton less than the present 

 Baltimore price. 



Potash is the only plant food element that has not declined in price. Muriate, 

 high grade sulfate, and sulfate of potash-magnesia cost more at the present 

 time than for any year since 1922. 



The very marked reduction in cost of the nitrogen-containing products 

 should insure very much lower prices for mixed commercial fertilizers for 

 1932. 



