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In a few instances we have been unable to get retail cash prices 

 from the agent. With very few exceptions, however, they have gladly 

 aided us in procuring the necessary data. In most instances, in 

 case of composite samples, the average of the several prices has been 

 used as the basis in computing the percentage of difference between 

 the retail cash price and valuation. 



The retail cash price of each sample has been published opposite 

 the name of the town where said sample was collected. The increased 

 cost of freight and cartage to the outlying country districts neces- 

 sarily increases the retail cash price charged by the agent. It may 

 not be out of place here to say a few words regarding the variation 

 in the retail cash prices given on samples of the same brand collected 

 in different parts of the state. There are a number of influences 

 which are responsible for the frequent wide variations noted. 



The price of a given fertilizer depends hrst upon the location 

 of the agent. The person selling fertilizer near the factory 

 where it is made, or near the port where it is received, often gets 

 his fertilizer at a lower initial cost than does the agent living in the 

 back country districts, and for this reason can retail his goods at a 

 correspondingly lower tigure. Secondly, the price of a fertilizer 

 will necessarily depend somewhat upon the size of the order as well 

 as upon the date when said order is placed. The consumer who 

 orders a carload of fertilizer to be delivered before the rush of the 

 season will, as a rule, get a better quotation than the one who waits 

 until he wishes to use the goods and then only buys a few bags at a 

 time when the supply may be low. 



It should be borne in mind that the cost of handling and cartage 

 will naturally come out of the consumer as the fertilizer agent is not 

 in the business for love or philanthropic purposes and will cease 

 to handle fertilizer when it fails to net him a fair return. 



The consumer should obtain quotations for an early delivery and 

 in carload lots if possible ; this may often be done by co-operation 

 among neighbors ; in this way and by a cash payment the consumer 

 may reasonably expect lowest prices. Many farmers no doubt, 

 accept a fertilizer agency for the reason that it gives them an oppor- 

 tunity to get their own fertilizer supply at wholesale prices. Such 

 agents often sell goods at a much lower price than can the agent who 



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