17 



Table showing the Comparative Pound Cost of Nitrogen, 

 Potash and Phosphoric Acid in its Various Forms, in the Three 

 Grades of FertiHzer. 



"What this table shows: — 



1. That nitrogen has cost 9.75 cents, available phosphoric 

 acid about 2 cents, and potash 2. 56 cents per pound more in the 

 average low grade fertilizer than in the average high grade goods. 



2. That nitrogen has cost 4.23 cents, the available phosphoric 

 acid over ^ cents and the potash 1.11 cents -more per pound in 

 the average medium grade goods than in the average high grade 

 fertilizer. 



3. That every conclusion which can be drawn from the above 

 tables emphasizes the fact that the farmer cannot afford to 

 purchase the low grade fertilizers. 



One wonders why so many farmers buy the low grade fertilizers 

 and pay the high prices for plant food which these brands de- 

 mand. The same amount paid for high grade goods will pur- 

 chase H to }4 more plant food, and moreover the plant food in the 

 high grade goods is likely to be more highly available and in 

 better form. The intelligent farmer buys commercial fertilizer 

 in order to get available plant food, not a large bulk of material 

 irrespective of the amount and quality of the plant food which 

 it contains. A ton of low grade fertilizer may contain 200 lbs, 

 of plant food while a ton of high grade fertilizer often contains 

 500 lbs. of plant food, or to put it in another way 10 percent 

 of the total weight of a ton of low grade fertilizer may be avail- 

 able plant food while 25 percent of the total weight of a ton of 

 high grade fertilizer is often actually present in this form. 



It costs no more to grind, mix, bag, transport and sell a ton 

 of fertilizer containing 500 lbs. of plant food than a ton of low 

 grade fertilizer containing 200 lbs. of plant food; hence the 

 manufacturer can sell the plant food in high grade fertilizers 

 cheaper than in low grade goods. The higher the grade the 

 cheaper the plant food can be bought as a general rule. 



WHY BUY LOW GRADE FERTILIZERS ? 



