1899,] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 109 



the three essential articles of plant food which they contain, 

 t.e., nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. Supply and 

 demand control the temporary market prices not less in the 

 fertilizer trade than in other lines of commercial business. 



The approximate value of a fertilizer, simple or com- 

 pound, is obtained by multiplying the pounds contained in 

 a ton of two thousand pounds by the trade value per pound 

 of each of the three above-stated essential constituents of 

 plant food present. The same course is adopted with refer- 

 ence to the different forms of each, wherever diflerent prices 

 are recognized in the trade. Adding the different values 

 per ton obtained, we find the total value per ton at the 

 principal ])lace of distribution. 



As farmers are quite freijuently not in the position to 

 secure the desired information regarding the market cost 

 of fertilizers they wish to secure, the official inspectors of 

 commercial fertilizers have aided them for years in ascer- 

 taining the current market prices of the following leading 

 or standard raw materials : — 



Sulphate of ammonia. 

 Nitrate of soda. 

 Muriate of potash. 

 Sulphate of potash. 

 Cotton-seed meal. 

 Dry ground fish. 

 Azotiu. 



Ammouiate. 



Castor pomace. 



Linseed meal. 



Dried blood. 



Dried ground meat. 



Bone and tankage. 



Plain superphosphates, etc. 



which serve largely in the manufacture of good fertilizers for 

 our market ; and have published the results of their inquiries 

 in the form of tal)les, stating the average trade values per 

 pound, for the six months preceding, of the different kinds 

 and forms of fertilizing materials at the leading places of 

 distribution. 



The values stated below are based on the condition of the 

 fertilizer market in centres of distribution in New England 

 during the six months preceding March, 1897 and 1898 : — 



