118 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



To determine the value of any manure the percentage of each ingredient is- 

 multiplied by the unit-value assigned above to that ingredient, the result 

 being the value per ton of that substance in the manure. For example, a 

 bonedust contains 4 per cent, nitrogen and 20 per cent, phosphoric acid : — 



4 

 20 



22s. lid. = 

 6s. 7d. = 



£4 lis. 

 £6 lis. 



8d. = 



Sd. = 



value of the nitrogen per ton. 



,, phosphoric acid per ton. 



£11 3s. 4d. = value of manure per ton. 

 It must be clearly understood that the value thus assigned, depending solely 

 upon the chemical composition of the manure, does not represent in all cases 

 the actual money value of the manure, which depends upon a variety of 

 causes other than the composition, and is affected by local conditions ; 

 neither does it represent the costs incurred by the manufacturer in the 

 preparation, such as cost of mixing, bagging, labelling, &c. It is simply 



Manurial Trial with Potatoes. 



This plot of ljueen of the Valley was manured with superphosphate at 3 cwt. per acre and yielded 

 10 tons 12 cwt., as against 10 tons where only 2 cwt. superphosphate was used, 

 and 7 tons 17 cwt. where no manure was used. 



intended as a standard by which different products may be compared. At 

 the same time, it has been attempted to make the standard indicate as nearly 

 as possible the fair retail value of the manurial ingredients, and it will be 

 found in the majority of cases the price asked and the value assigned are 

 fairly close. 



These figures have been checked by analyses of samples collected by an 

 officer of the Department. It by no means follows, however, that the par- 

 ticular product guaranteed and here published will be in stock for any length 

 r.f time or that the prices may not vary. 



Now that the Fertiliser Adulteration Act is in force, the purchaser has 

 only himself to blame if he pays for an inferior article. Every vendor is 

 obliged to furnish a guarantee with every delivery of fertiliser, setting forthr> 

 its actual composition as determined by analysis. 



