October, 1923] FERTILIZER inspection. 1923 9 



The ivide range of prices again suggests the wisdom of 

 selecting your fertilizers according to the cost per pound of 

 plant food. 



ACIDULATED PHOSPHATES 



Five brands of acid phosphates were analyzed which 

 showed from 16.00 to 17.77 per cent, available phosphoric 

 acid. The price ranged from $20.00 to $53.00 per ton. 

 This ivide rayige of prices again emphasizes the need of buy- 

 ing according to the cost of the plant food. 



SHEEP MANURE TOO EXPENSIVE 



Five brands of sheep manures were analyzed which av- 

 eraged 1.79 per cent, of nitrogen, 1.35 per cent, phosphoric 

 acid and 2.64 per cent, potash. The price ranged from 

 $42.00 to $62.00 per ton averaging $52.80. Figuring their 

 value on the basis of the cost of phosphoric acid at $2.04 

 per unit, potash at $1.00 per unit and nitrogen at $7.20 per 

 unit we lind the average value of these sheep manures to 

 be $18.27 per ton. Their cost ivas nearly three times their 

 commercial value. 



DEFICIENCIES IN ANALYSIS 



Twenty-one brands out of 101 analyzed or 21.0 per cent, 

 showed a deficiency of 0.2 per cent, or more in one or more 

 of the plant foods, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. 

 In 1922, 22.6 per cent, of the samples showed deficiencies. 

 There is a slight improvement this year but it still indicates 

 a serious loss to the farmer using the brands which showed 

 these deficiencies. 



Table No. IV shows the number of brands analyzed 

 from each manufacturer and the number which met and 

 failed to meet the guarantee. Study this table and buy from 

 tvvnufacturers ivho maintained their guarantee. 



