20 



of 2000 pounds of the salt furnishing 1000 pounds of actual potash, 

 it might be found that the original 2000 pounds had increased 

 six to eight pounds by absorbing that amount of moisture. 



The inspectors were instructed to weigh packages in the pos- 

 session of different agents to determine this point. In six cases 

 each package weighed exactly 200 pounds; in one case each sack 

 weighed 224 pounds, making nine sacks weigh 2016 pounds. 

 Allowing 13^ pounds each for the sacks, this would give a total 

 weight of 2006 pounds from the nine sacks. As the shipment was 

 made to fill an order for one ton of miuiate, it would indicate 

 that this sample had either absorbed moisture or else in re-bagging 

 a liberal weight of the salt had been allowed. Assuming that it 

 was a case of moisture absorption, it was the only case out of seven, 

 which would show that under ordinary conditions of storage this 

 tendency would not be great. 



Kainit. Three samples have been analyzed and found 



well up to the guarantee. 



Phosphoric Acid Compounds. 



Dissolved Two samples of dissolved bone black have 



Bone Black. been analyzed, one of which showed a com- 



mercial shortage of over 50 cents per ton: 

 The American Agricultural Chemical Co., No. 362. Soluble 

 phosphoric acid found 11.07%, guaranteed 13%; reverted phos- 

 phoric acid found 3.09%, guaranteed 2%; insoluble phosphoric 

 acid found .28%, guaranteed 1%. 



Fourteen analyses of acid phosphate have 

 Acid been made representing twenty-five samples. 



Phosphate. In all but one case the guarantee of available 



phosphoric acid has been maintained. The 

 average retail cash price has been $15.35 and the average commer- 

 cial valuation calculated from the table of trade values has been 

 S13.67 per ton. The pound of available phosphoric acid from 

 acid phosphate has cost 4.77 cents. 



Seventeen analyses of Thomas basic slag 

 Basic Slag phosphate have been made representing 



Phosphate. twejity-three samples. Four analyses showed 



samples deficient in available phosphoric acid. 

 The average retail cash price paid for basic slag was $15.19, 

 and the average calculated commercial valuation $12.64 per ton. 

 The pound of available phosphoric acid from basic slag, as de- 

 termined by the Wagner method, has cost on the average 4.81 

 cents. The following brands showed a commercial shortage of 

 over 50 cents per ton: 



