202 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



These values may be used by the consumer to calculate 

 the wholesale cost of a fertilizer of guaranteed composition, 

 which he can then compare with the retail price asked by 

 the retail dealer. He may also compare the relative values 

 of brands of similar composition offered for sale by different 

 manufacturers. 



256. Computation of the wholesale value of a fertilizer. — 

 Suppose that we have the following statement of the analysis 

 of a fertilizer. 



Per Cent 



Nitrogen in nitrate of soda 1 



Nitrogen in dried blood 2 



Phosphoric acid, water soluble 6 



Phosphoric acid, reverted 2 



Potash, as muriate 10 



The number of pounds of each constituent to a ton of 

 fertilizer is then found by multiplying the weight of a ton 

 of fertilizer by the percentage of the constituent, thus : 



Nitrogen, as nitrate .01 X 2000 = 20 pounds per ton. 



Nitrogen in dried blood .02 x 2000 = 40 pounds per ton. 



Phosphoric acid, water-soluble .06 X 2000 = 120 pounds per ton. 

 Phosphoric acid, reverted .02 X 2000 = 40 pounds per ton. 



Potash, muriate .10 X 2000 = 200 pounds per ton. 



The trade values, as published by the fertilizer inspection 

 officers, are then applied to the several constituents. 



Nitrogen as nitrate 20 X $.185 = $ 3.70 



Nitrogen in dried blood 40 x $.20 = 8.00 



Phosphoric acid, water-soluble 120 X $.045 = 5.40 

 Phosphoric acid, reverted 40 x $.04 = 1.60 



Potash, muriate 200 X $.0425 = 8.50 



$27.20 



Such a fertilizer will cost the consumer more than the fig- 

 ure derived in this way, because the entire cost of mixing 

 and retailing must be added to it. It may serve as a basis 

 for ascertaining whether it would not be more profitable 



