190 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



The above trade values are the figures at which, in the six 

 months preceding March 1, the respective ingredients could 

 be bought at retail for cash in our large markets, in the raw 

 materials which are the regular source of supply. 



They also correspond to the average wholesale prices for 

 the six months ending March 1, plus about twenty per cent, 

 in case of goods for which we have wholesale quotations. 

 The valuations obtained by use of the above figures will be 

 found to agree fairly with the reasonable retail price at the 

 large markets of standard raw materials, such as — 



Sulphate of ammonia, 

 Nitrate of soda, 

 Mm"iate of potash. 

 Sulphate of potash. 

 Dried blood, 

 Dried ground meat. 



Dried ground fish, 



Azotin, 



Ammonite, 



Castor pomace, 



Bone and tankage, 



Plain superphosphates. 



To obtain the valuation of a fertilizer (z. e., the money 

 worth of its fertilizing ingredients) , we multiply the pounds 

 per ton of nitrogen, etc., by the trade value per pound. 

 We thus get the values per ton of the several ingredients, 

 and, adding them together, we obtain the total valuation per 

 ton in case of cash payment at points of general distribution. 



The mechanical condition of any fertilizing material, simple 

 or compound, deserves the most serious consideration of 

 farmers, when articles of a similar chemical character are 

 ofibred for their choice. The degree of pulverization con- 

 trols, almost without exception, under similar conditions, the 

 rate of solubility, and the more or less rapid diffusion of the 

 different articles of plant food throughout the soil. 



The state of moisture exerts a no less important influence 

 on the pecuniary value, in case of one and the same kind of 

 substances. Two samples of fish fertilizer, although equally 

 pure, may differ from fifty to one hundred per cent, in com- 

 mercial value, on account of mere difference in moisture. 



Crude stock for the manufacture of fertilizers and refuse 

 materials of various descriptions, sent to the Station for 

 examination, are valued with reference to the market prices 

 of their principal constituents, taking into consideration at 

 the same time their general fitness for speedy action. 



