6 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 206 



Prices of Plant Foods. It is impossible to give accurate 

 figures for the cost of the different plant foods because the 

 cost of mixing, bagging, freight and the manufacturers* 

 and dealers' profits vary with the quantity purchased, dis- 

 tance shipped and number of persons through whose hands 

 the material has passed. It is possible, however, to obtain 

 figures which are sufficiently accurate for use in comparing 

 the relative values of fertilizers. 



The average cost of acid phosphate containing 16 per 

 cent, of phosphoric acid was $23.75 per ton. One ton con- 

 tained 0.16 times 2,000 pounds or 320 pounds of available 

 phosphoric acid. The cost per pound was $23.75^-320 or 

 approximately $0,074 and one unit of available phosphoric 

 acid cost 20 X $0,074 or approximately $1.48. 



The average cost of muriate of potash containing 48 per 

 cent, of water soluble potash was $65.00 per ton. One ton 

 contained .48 times 2,000 pounds or 960 pounds of potash. 

 The cost per pound was $65.00^960 or $0.0675 and one 

 unit of water soluble potash cost 20 X $0.0675 or $1.35. 



The average cost of nitrate of soda containing 15 per 

 cent, nitrogen was $65.00 per ton. One ton contained 

 0.15x2,000 or 300 pounds of nitrogen; this made the cost 

 $65.00-^-300 or approximately $0.22 per pound and the 

 price per unit 20 X $0.22 or $4.40. The average cost of 

 tankage was $50.00 per ton and it contained an average of 

 5.00 per cent, of nitrogen and 5.50 per cent, available phos- 

 phoric acid. The value of the 5.50 units of phosphoric 

 acid was 5.50 X $1-48 or $8.14, making the nitrogen cost 

 $50.00 minus $8.14 or $41.86. The cost per unit of nitro- 

 gen was $41.86-;-5.00 or $8.37 and the cost per pound of 

 nitrogen $0,418. If we assume that our complete fertilizers 

 contain both forms of nitrogen, we can approximate an 

 average and use the values of $0.32 per pound and $6.40 

 per unit for nitrogen of complete fertilizers. These figures 

 will not give the price at which fertilizers should be sold 

 within the state, but they can be used to determine the rel- 

 ative value of the different brands which may be offered 

 to the purchaser. 



