g N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 196 



Fourteen brands of 2-8-2 fertilizers show an average of 

 1.69 per cent nitrogen, 7.99 per cent of available phosphoric 

 acid and 2.05 per cent of potash. The price ranged from 

 $50 to $62 per ton. Twelve samples of 2-8-3 brands aver- 

 aged 1.78 per cent of nitrogen, 8.47 per cent of available 

 phosphoric acid and 3.14 per cent of potash. The price 

 ranged from $53 to $65 per ton. Eight samples of 3-8-4 

 brands averaged 2.43 per cent of nitrogen, 8.35 per cent of 

 available phosphoric acid and 4.03 per cent of potash. The 

 price ranged from $63 to $77 per ton. Eight samples of 

 4-8-4 brands averaged 3. IS per cent of nitrogen, 8.22 per 

 cent of available phosphoric acid and 3.97 per cent of 

 potash. The price of these brands ranged from $60 to $80 

 per ton. 



The fairly wide range in prices within the brands of the 

 same formula shows the importance of paying careful at- 

 tention to the amount of plant food contained in the fer- 

 tilizer as shown by the analysis in order to receive full 

 value for the money expended. Sometimes it is possible to 

 buy a brand of a higher formula for the same price or nearly 

 the same as one of a lower formula. 



ACIDULATED PHOSPHATES. 



Six samples of acid phosphates representing six differ- 

 ent brands were analyzed, all of which were guaranteed to 

 contain 16 per cent of available phosphoric acid. None 

 were deficient in available phosphoric acid. The prices ob- 

 tained by the inspector at the time they were sold show a 

 range of from $25 per ton for a sample showing 16.7 per 

 cent available phosphoric acid to $50 per ton for a sample 

 analyzing 16.60 per cent phosphoric acid. The average 

 price was $33.60 and the average per cent of available 

 phosphoric acid, 16.52. This shows an average retail value 

 of phosphoric acid of $2.03 per unit. The average retail 

 price of the two highest-priced brands was $43 per ton, and 

 the average retail price of the other four was $28.50 per 

 ton. On the basis of the price of the latter four the cost 

 of the phosphoric acid per unit was $1.72. This latter 

 value is very close to the value of $1.71 found by the Penn- 

 sylvania Department of Agriculture for the fall season of 

 1919. In 1919 the average retail price of the samples ana- 

 lyzed in New Hampshire was $33.20. This wide difference 

 in price in the different brands again shows the necessity 

 for careful buying of fertilizers. 



