PURCHASE AND USE OF FERTILIZERS 315 



The preceding schedule of trade values is the one agreed upon 

 by the Experiment Stations of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 

 Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont, after a careful study of 

 prices ruling in the larger markets of the southern New England 

 and middle States. 1 



These trade values are, as nearly as can be estimated, the 

 average figures at which, in the six months preceding March i, 

 1911, the respective unmixed ingredients could be bought at retail 

 for cash in the larger markets (Boston, New York, etc.) They 

 also correspond to the average wholesale prices for six months 

 ending March ist, plus about 20 per cent, in the case of goods for 

 which there are wholesale quotations. The valuations obtained by 

 the use of the above figures, it is claimed, will be found to agree 

 fairly with the reasonable average retail price in the large mar- 

 kets of standard raw materials, such as nitrate of soda, sulphate 

 of ammonia, dried blood, cottonseed meal, acid phosphate, 

 muriate of potash, and sulphate of potash, etc. 



The valuations used in Texas 2 for the season of 1911-12 are 

 as follows : 



Cents per pound 



Available phosphoric acid 6 



Total phosphoric acid in bone and tankage 4 



Nitrogen in mixed fertilizers, bat guano and cottonseed meal 20 



Nitrogen in tankage 18 



Potash 6 



The valuation of nitrogen in Texas depends largely on the 

 cost of cottonseed meal. 



Calculation of Commercial Valuation. Two methods are used, 

 namely, the pound method and the unit method. 



(o>) The Pound Method. Calculate the number of pounds of 

 each ingredient per ton and multiply by the cost per pound. For 

 example, in an 8.00 - 1.65 - 2.00 fertilizer: 



0.08 X 2,000 = 160 pounds X 6 cents-. = $9-6o 



0.0165 X 2,000 = : 33 pounds X 20 cents = 6.60 



0.02 X 2,000 = 40 pounds X 6 cents = 2.40 



Valuation per ton $21.60 



1 Report Connecticut Exp. Sta., 1911, p. 7. 



2 Texas Station Bulletin No. 149. 



