Purchase of Fertilizers 



161 



bulletins on fertilizer analyses, as published by the dif- 

 ferent states. 



Method of statement of guarantee sometimes misleading. 



Guarantees, too, are sometimes rendered confusing 

 to the purchaser because of the method of their state- 

 ment, though the different methods used are, in one sense, 

 entirely legitimate, because the terms used are in accord- 

 ance with the facts. From a chemical standpoint, at 

 any rate, it is quite as legitimate to guarantee the per- 

 centage of phosphoric acid equivalent to bone phosphate 

 of lime, as it is to guarantee the percentage of actual 

 phosphoric acid. It is because the consumer believes 

 that the "equivalent" in combination means that he is 

 obtaining something more than when actual constituents 

 only are guaranteed, that he is led to purchase more freely, 

 or to pay a higher price. Nitrogen may be properly 

 stated in its equivalent of ammonia, phosphoric acid 

 in its equivalent of bone phosphate, and potash in its 

 equivalent of muriate of potash, and it is the business of 

 the purchaser to understand the relations of the two 

 methods of statement, in order that he may not be mis- 

 led in his purchases. The following table shows the terms 

 used, their equivalents, and the factor to use in multiply- 

 ing, in order to convert the one into the other : 



To convert the guarantee of 



Ammonia . . 

 Nitrogen . . 

 Nitrate of soda 

 Bone phosphate 

 Phosphoric acid 

 Muriate of potash 

 Actual potash 

 Sulfate of potash 

 Actual potash 



