make one pound of actual potash (K2O). When an 

 analysis states: "Sulphate of potash 8%, actual 

 potash 4%," it means simply that there is only 4% 

 of potash in the ton, or 80 pounds, and that the 

 manufacturers used 8% or 160 pounds of sulphate 

 of potash to get it. The actual potash is worth 

 about six cents per pound, while the sulphate is 

 worth only three cents per pound. 



When both terms are used in stating the analysis, 

 only one of them should be included in the estimate 

 of the value of the ton. 



COMMERCIAL VS. AGRICULTURAL VALUE. 



Farmers frequently confound the agricultural 

 and commercial value of a fertilizer. If one is high it 

 does not necessarily imply that the other must be. 



The commercial value of any commodity is its 

 market price, its purchase price, and depends entirely 

 upon "supply and demand. " 



The agricultural value of a fertilizer is its ability 

 to improve the fertility of the soil and the condition 

 of the crop in question. 



As an illustration, suppose a steady, long-lived 

 food were wanted for some perennials as an orchard, 

 blood would answer the purpose while nitrate of 

 soda would be soon exhausted or lost by leaching. 

 Now, while the price of both nitrate and blood is 

 about the same, ($55.00 per.ton) the agricultural value 



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