488 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Trade Values in Superpliosphates^ Special Manures and Mixed 

 Fertilizers of High Grade. 



The organic nitrogen in these classes of goods will be 

 valued at the highest figures laid down in the Trade Values 

 of Fertilizing Ingredients in Raw Materials, namely, 17.5 

 cents per pound ; it being assumed that the organic nitrogen 

 is derived from the best sources, viz., animal matter, as 

 meat, blood, bones or other equally good forms, and not 

 from leather, shoddy, hair, or any low-priced inferior form 

 of vegetable matter, unless the contrary is ascertained. 



Insoluble phosphoric acid will be valued at three cents, it 

 being assumed, unless found otherwise, that it is from bone 

 or similar source and not from rock phosphate. In this latter 

 form the insoluble phosphoric acid is worth but two cents 

 per pound. Potash is rated at four and one-fourth cents, if 

 sufficient chlorine is present in the fertilizer to combine with 

 it and make muriate. If there is more potash present than 

 will combine with the chlorine, then this excess of potash 

 will be* counted as sulphate. 



To introduce large quantities of chlorides, common salt, 

 etc., into a fertilizer, claiming sulphate of potash as a con- 

 stituent, is a practice which in our present state of informa- 

 tion will be considered of doubtful merit. The use of the 

 highest trade values is based on the opinion that these 

 articles ous^ht to contain the most efficient forms of fertilizing 

 inijredients. 



In most cases the valuation of the ingredients in Super- 

 phosphates and Specials falls below the retail price of these 

 goods. The difference between the figures represents the 

 manufacturer's charges for converting raw materials into 

 manufactured articles. These charges are for grinding and 

 mixing, bagging or barrelling, storage and transportation, 

 commission to agents and dealers, long credits, interest on 

 investment, bad debts, and finally profits. 



Local disadvantages for transportation exert not unfre- 

 quently a serious influence on the cost of one and the same 

 brand of fertilizers. Binding rules cannot be laid down 

 regarding these points. Farmers must judge for themselves 



once in five minutes; commonly called "reverted" or "backgone" phosphoric 

 acid. 



