16 



The average ton cost of wood ashes has been $28.66, and the average com- 

 mercial valuation, $35.08. 



The average analysis stated above shows that about 78 per cent of the 

 total potash was soluble in water, as against 76.8 per cent the previous year. 

 Although the greater part of the wood ashes consumed in Massachusetts has 

 been sold on the unit basis of $5 to $5.50 per unit of total potash, yet a good 

 many carloads have been sold at a flat price of $21 to $21.50 per ton. Almost 

 without exception the ashes that were sold on the unit basis have proved to 

 be the better grade of ashes. In other words, the shipper apparently has 

 some means of determining the quality of ashes which are to be shipped, 

 and naturally sends a better grade of ashes to the party who purchases on 

 the unit basis for the reason that if the ashes run high in potash he gets pro- 

 portionately more for the goods than if they were sold at a flat price on a 

 minimum guarantee of 2 per cent of actual potash. The actual cost of 

 potash from ashes during the season has been about 27.5 cents per pound. 

 Only one carload showed a commercial shortage. This was a sample of 

 Joynt's ashes carried over from the previous year, represented by sample 

 No. 359. Ashes vary decidedly in composition, and it is not an easy matter 

 to forecast what they will test in potash. During the season of 1918 a good 

 many shortages occurred in the ashes sold in ^Massachusetts. During the 

 present season the principal shipper of wood ashes, Mr. Joynt, has registered 

 a product with a minimum guarantee of 2 per cent actual water soluble pot- 

 ash. During the past season the minimum guarantee was 3 per cent. The 

 lowering of the minimum guarantee of potash has prevented the usual defi- 

 ciencies from occurring. 



Acid Phosphate. — Forty-nine samples of acid phosphate have been 

 examined, necessitating 27 analyses. The average percentage of available 

 phosphoric acid found was 17.06. Acid phosphate has cost on the average 

 $33.08 per ton, making the pound cost of available phosphoric acid from this 

 source 9.7 cents. The average commercial valuation of acid phosphate has 

 been $30.40 per ton. No commercial shortages were noted. 



Basic Lime Phosphate. — One sample of this material was analyzed and 

 found well up to the minimum guarantee. It cost $34.50 per ton, and had 

 a commercial value of $34.80. The pound cost of phosphoric acid from this 

 source was 10 cents. 



Precipitated Bone. — Three samples, sold by Messrs. Olds & Whipple, 

 have been analyzed. The average total phosphoric acid found was 29.04 

 per cent, and the average available phosphoric acid found was 22.37 per cent, 



