458 



The Purchase of Artificial Manures. 



The above figures must be regarded merely as examples, 

 prices fluctuating considerably from year to year, and in 

 different parts of the country, owing to a variety of causes. 



It may be pointed out that the purchase of manures at a 

 certain rate per unit, subject to analysis by an approved 

 chemist, makes a farmer largely independent of variations 

 in quality. If, for instance, he agrees to pay is. 3d. per unit, 

 carriag-e paid, for phosphates in basic slag, it is a matter of 

 comparative indifference to him whether the consignment 

 proves to be of 35 or 40 per cent, quality. In the former case the 

 price of a ton would be 35 x is. 3d. = £2 3s. 9d., while in the 

 latter case it would be 40 x is. 3d. = £2 10s. Needless to say, 

 he would not apply the manure to his land till he was in 

 possession of the analysis, and then he would regulate 

 the dressing with some regard to the quality of the 

 material. 



