Food for 

 Plants 



174 



"A comparison of the commercial value per ton of the 

 materials used with that of an actual mixture also confirms 

 the results of analyses, the average difference .between the 

 two values being but thirteen cents per ton. This is a severe 

 test, since in three cases out of the five the three forms of the 

 expensive element Nitrogen were used, each of which has a 

 different commercial value, and also because in three mix- 

 tures ground bone or tankage was used, materials which in 

 themselves are valued in a different manner than when they 

 are used in a mixed fertilizer. 



Valuation. 



" In Nos. 3960 and 4002 the cost of raw materials included 

 freight charges to point of consumption; in the others the 

 average cost of freight was $1.00 per ton. The cost of mix- 

 ing was variously estimated, ranging from 50 cents to $1.50 

 per ton. In the table showing cost and value of the mixtures 

 ^i.oo per ton has been assumed as the average cost of 

 mixine. 



Station Number. 



Cost per ton 



Freight and mixing. 



o o 



Total cost per ton. . 



Station's value 



Value exceeds cost. . 



4207 



$30.10 

 2.00 



32.10 



33-45 

 1-35 



"The average value per ton of these mixtures is ^2.92, 

 or 8.9 per cent, greater than their cost at point of consump- 

 tion. This sum, while worthy of careful consideration by 

 the farmers, by no means represents the actual saving in the 

 cost of plant food that this method of buying offers over the 

 usual haphazard method of buying on credit from small 

 dealers and without regard to the source of materials used 

 or reliability of the manufacturer. The following results 

 shown by study of the analyses of complete fertilizers, made 

 in 1890, clearly illustrate this point, viz., that the value per 

 ton of the average of over 200 brands of complete fertilizers 

 was $28.37 and the average selling price $34.64, a difference 

 of $6.27 per ton, or a cost of 22.1 per cent, greater than the 

 value; this added to the 8.9 per cent, would make a total 



