17 



(G). That the per cent of nitrogen and potash is very much 

 higher in the high grade goods than in the low or medium grade. 



(7). A ton of the average high grade fertiHzcr furnishes about 

 49 lbs. more nitrogen, 2^/^ more available phosphoric acid and 91 

 more of actual potash than does a ton of the low grade goods . 



(8) . A ton of the average high grade fertilizer furnishes about 

 31 lbs. more nitrogen and about 51 lbs. more potash than does a 

 ton of the medium grade goods. 



Table showing the comparative pound cost of nitrogen, pot- 

 ash and phosphoric acid in its various forms in the three grades 

 of fertilizer. 



ELEMENT 



Nitrogen 



Potash (as muriate) . . . . , 

 Soluble phosphoric acid . . 

 Reverted phosphoric acid 

 Insoluble phosphoric acid 



High Grade 

 Fertilizer 



26.66 



.5.67 

 6.00 

 5.33 

 2.67 



This table emphasizes the marked increase in the cost of plant 

 food wherever the low and medium grade fertilizers are purchased. 

 It shows that nitrogen has cost 8.96 cents, available phosphoric 

 acid about 2 cents, and potash 1.9 cents per pound more in the 

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

 It shows that nitrogen has cost 5.19 cents, the available phos- 

 phoric acid 1.11 cents and the potash 1.10 cents more per pound 

 in the average medium grade goods than in the average high 

 grade fertilizer. A comparison with the previous year shows that 

 more high grade brands have been sold this season than for 1909. 

 There is, however, altogether too large a proportion of low and 

 medium grade brands sold at present (55.33% of the whole). It 

 is evident that too many purchasers select a fertilizer for its low 

 cost and wdthout much regard to the plant food which they are 

 getting. The object in buying a fertilizer should be to get the 

 largest amount of plant food in the proper form and proportion 

 for the least money. The high grade goods approach as near 

 this ideal as is possible in case of factory mixed fertilizers. It 

 costs just as much to freight, cart and handle the low grade fer- 

 tilizers as it does the high grade. Nitrogen and potash in low 

 grade fertilizers cost from a third to a half more than if obtained 

 from high grade goods. The farmer cannot afford to buy low grade 

 fertilizers. 



