[ Commercial Value of Artificial Manures. 
279 
clieaper rate than otliers wliicli do not analyse so well, but which, 
nevertheless, show a better result in the field, and possess a higher 
agricultural and commercial value. 
I should much regret if these observations should induce 
any one to deny the utility of submitting artificial manures to 
chemical analysis. Without a correct analysis, not even an 
approximate estimate of the value of a manure can be given ; it 
is, therefore, and always will, remain the most important and 
most indispensable instrument in conducting such an inquiry ; 
but there are other data likewise to be taken into consideration 
before the true money value of manures can be determined. 
Believing chemical analysis to be of the highest practical 
utility, and fearing that discredit may be brought upon it by our 
Manure Calculators," I am anxious to place in a propet light 
the ordinary money calculations which are given by most chemists 
with the analyses of artificial manures. 
These calculations in many instances do not deserve the name 
of valuations, for instead of indicating what a manure is worth 
to the consumer and at what price it can actually be bought in 
the market, they show an imaginary value which in some cases 
is much lower, and in others much higher, than the price at 
which the manure can be supplied. Take, for example, the 
following numbers, which express the 
Composition of a Sample of Superphosphate, sdliiig at Q>1. 1'Os. a ton. 
Moisture 14-62 
9-92 
18-02 
(28-12) 
8-46 
42-15 
2-34 
4-49 
100-00 
* Containing nitrogen -59 
Equal to ammonia '71 
An exceedingly simple method by which the value of artificial 
manures is calculated is to regard the analysis as representing 
the composition of 100 tons of manure, and to multiply each 
constituent by its assumed market-price per ton, and then to add 
up all the products. We thus obtain by calculation the price of 
100 tons, and, by dividing this by 100, the assumed value of 
1 ton. 
The following list gives the price per ton of each constituent, 
according to the valuation-tables of Professors Way and Ander- 
son, and Mr. Nesbit: — 
*Organic matter and water of comWriation 
Bi-pliosphate of lime 
Equal to bone-earth rendered sohitle 
Insoluble phosphates 
Sulphate of lime 
Alkaline salts 
Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) 
