17 



ojiiaranteed 32.06 and 33 per cent.^ The average commercial valuation per 

 ton has been $39.73. The average cost has been $39.15, making a pound of 

 available phosphoric acid cost 7.8 cents. It might be said in this connection 

 that this product was sold on the unit basis of available phosphoric acid at a cost 

 of $1.75. Rebates for shortages are, therefore, settled for on the same basis, 



Florida Soft Phosphate (Phoslime) . — This material has been dis- 

 tributed largely by the Florida Soft Phosphate and Lime Company of Ocala, 

 Fla. Three samples were analyzed and showed the presence of 21.27 per 

 cent of total phosphoric acid, 22 per cent being guaranteed. The average 

 cost of this material has been $30 per ton, the average commercial valuation, 

 $12.77. The cost of a pound of phosphoric acid from this source has been 

 about 7 cents. Two of the samples showed a rather serious commercial 

 shortage. No. 928 testing 19.57 per cent and Xo. 937 testing 20.03 per cent of 

 total phosphoric acid. 



Apatite and Sulfide of Barium, Grade B (Barium-Phosphate). — 

 Five samples have been analyzed and found to contain 16.61 per cent of total 

 phosphoric acid. This product has cost on the average $22.30 per ton, and 

 has an average commercial valuation of $9.97. The cost of a pound of 

 phosphoric acid from this source has been 6.7 cents. Many inquiries are 

 being constantly received with reference to the purchase and use of this 

 material as a source of phosphoric acid. A small circular was published on 

 this subject in the spring of 1919, called " The Value of Apatite and Barium 

 Sulfide (Barium-Phosphate)." The conclusions drawn in this circular, based 

 upon experiments both in pots in the greenhouse and in the field, were to the 

 effect that this material could not be recommended as a source of phosphoric 

 acid for quick-growing crops in place of the soluble phosphates. Experi- 

 ments with this material have been continued during the present year, prin- 

 cipally on land not heretofore used for experimental purposes. As might be 

 expected, the first year's results do not give conclusive evidence with refer- 

 ence to the fitness or the unfitness of the material as a source of phosphoric 

 acid. It is planned to continue the experiments with various crops for a 

 number of years until some definite conclusions may be reached. It seems 

 to be a very well-established fact that some of the raw mineral phosphates 

 give fairly satisfactory results when used on corn and grass crops, also on 

 green crops on land containing considerable organic matter. This may 

 hold true with this fine ground apatite. The fact, however, has yet to be 

 proved. 



' The product was guaranteed 32.06 and 33 per cent for the reason that this was the analysis under which it 

 was bought from the American Glue Company by Messrs. Olds & Whipple. 



