14 



These trade values represent the average pound cost for cash 

 at retail, of the various ingredients as furnished by unmixed raw 

 materials and chemicals, in large markets in New England and 

 New York for the six months preceding March 1st, 1910. They 

 will also be found to coi respond fairly with the average wholesale 

 quotations of raw materials and chemicals as found in trade 

 publications for the six months preceding March 1st, plus about 

 20 per cent. As may be seen from the tables, the values for the 

 mineral forms of nitrogen (nitrate of soda and sulfate of ammonia) 

 liave been somewhat lower than for the previous year; conse- 

 quently this has led to a more general use of these forms of nitro- 

 gen than ever before. Nitrogen from organic sources has been 

 higher than for the season of 1909. The values for phosphoric 

 acid are 3^ cent higher than for the previous season. There 

 was no material change in the values of the various forms of 

 l)otash. 



In determining the valuations which appear in the 

 Valuations tables of analyses, the water soluble nitrogen has 

 and been valued as coming from nitrate of soda and 



Retail Cash sulfate of ammonia at 16 cents per pound. The 

 Prices. organic nitrogen has been valued at 20 cents per 

 pound. The soluble, reverted and insoluble phos- 

 phoric acid have been valued respectively at 43^2 j 4 and 2 cents 

 per pound. The potash, when present as sulfate, has been valued 

 at 5 cents and wherever sufhcient chlorine has been found present 

 to unite with all of the potash, the latter has been valued at 4)4 

 cents. Some brands of tobacco fertilizer have had carbonate of 

 potash as a potash source. In such cases, if no soluble chlorides 

 or sulfates were found present, the potash has been valued at 8 

 cents per pound. If soluble chlorides or sulfates have been found, 

 the potash has been proportioned and valued as chlorides, sul- 

 fate or carbonate, as the case might be. 



In the valuations published, it must be assumed that the 

 \^arious elements ^^ nlant food are derived from high grade prod- 

 ucts. This maj' not always be the case as the methods employed 

 do not indicate the availability of the organic portion of the 

 nitrogen; methods, however, are being perfected so that this 

 may be done. The valuations published do not show the agri- 

 cultural value of a given brand but rather the cash cost at centers 

 of distribution of amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash 

 as supplied in unmixed standard chemicals and raw materials, 

 equivalent to the amounts of said elements found in a ton 

 of the fertilizer or brand in question. To illustrate: 



A purchase is made of difTerent materials to mix a ton of 

 fertilizer analyzing 4% nitrogen, 8% available phosphoric acid, 

 and 10% potash. These materials may be approximately: 



