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Table of Analysis and Valuation of ACID PHOSPHATES, &c., made at the

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684

Pure Dissolved S. C. Rock Patapsco Guano Co., Balto., Cockeysville - --

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No.

Moisture.

Maryland Agricultural College, September, 1891, to January, 1892, inclusive.

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* No. 696 contained 34.55 per cent. of "soluble " phosphoric acid. (This is included in the "available" given above.)

THE VALUATION OF FERTILIZERS.

The last two columns of the table give, side by side, the "comparative value per ton" and the "selling price per ton." Explanation is necessary regarding the first of these columns. The law upon this subject requires "such value to be based upon the analysis made by the College, and upon a standard of valuation to be ascertained, fixed, and published by said College, annually, after conference with the proper officials of adjacent States." The values fixed for the current year for use in Maryland, after proper conferences as above required, are as follows:

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In Dissolved S. C. Rock:

Available Phosphoric Acid...

In Ground Bone:

For Nitrogen, calculated as Ammonia, in "Fine" Bone...14"

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Nitrogen, calculated as Ammonia, in "Medium"
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Nitrogen, calculated as Ammonia, in "Fine-Medium"
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Nitrogen, calculated as Ammonia, in “Coarse" Bone. 8
Phosphoric Acid in "Fine" Bone..

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These rates are fixed as a standard for computing or estimating the comparative value of the different fertilizers inspected, sampled, analyzed, and reported upon. They are not intended to represent the proper selling price of the fertilizers at the place of sale or of use. They do not pretend to perfect accuracy, but if they err as to any one fertilizer, the same error applies in like proportion to every similar one in the list. These rates represent very closely the wholesale prices at which a pound of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid can now be purchased, in their various forms, for cash, in our large markets, plus 20 to 30 per cent. They are based upon the ton prices at which various classes of goods are offered to actual consumers, or the average prices of the past season, so far as those could be obtained. They are the prices of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid, in materials ready for use by the farmer, when bought in the large markets, singly and not mixed. The cost of a ton of superphosphate or mixed fertilizer, when ready for use on the farm, includes three classes of items, viz: (1) Cost of materials in the markets; (2) cost of mixing and bagging; (3) cost of transportation.

The cash price of fertilizers in our large markets should not, as a rule, exceed the "comparative value." The price, however, will be increased by

transportation, storage charges, commissions to agents and dealers, large profits, and, last but not least, long credits and bad debts.

The custom of the wholesale trade in regard to the valuation of acid phosphate has been followed by basing the "comparative value" upon the percentage of "available" phosphoric acid only. By "acid phosphate" is meant all forms of mineral or rock phosphate which have been treated with acid.

Ground bone is sifted into four successive grades of fineness, as follows:

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Each grade has its own valuation assigned for both phosphoric acid and ammonia. The agricultural value of bone depends largely on its mechanical condition. The chemical composition of the different grades of fineness in the same sample is assumed to be the same. The variation is small in a

pure ground bone.

The standard having been fixed, the valuation (for purposes of comparison) is obtained by multiplying the percentages of the different ingredients. by twenty, thus getting the pounds per ton, and these products by the stated prices per pound; the sum of the several final products is the estimated market value of the fertilizing ingredients in one ton, and this is placed in the column headed "comparative value per ton."

There is too much inclination to give this money column of the Table undue weight and neglect the columns showing the actual composition of the fertilizers. The latter are far more important and should be carefully studied and compared by those who buy and use fertilizers and seek information on the subject from this Bulletin.

The estimated comparative or commercial values should be considered in the light of the explanations made. They should not be too closely compared. A difference of a dollar or two on a ton, between two brands, may have no real significance, but may be due to unavoidable errors in sampling and analysis, which render it impossible to determine, with absolute exactness, the composition of the entire bulk of the material represented by the sample.

Potash in high-grade sulphate costs about one cent per pound more than in other forms, and a little allowance may be made when this is claimed. This form of potash is not largely used.

A few manufacturers continue to guarantee the percentage of "Potash Sulphate." This is contrary to law and is liable to deceive the buyer. Two pounds or two per cent. of "Potash Sulphate" are equivalent to a very small fraction over one pound or one per cent. of actual Potash.

The same remarks hold good, in a still greater degree, to "Ammonia Sulphate." In this case it requires four pounds or four per cent. of “Ammonia Sulphate" to make one pound or one per cent. of Ammonia.

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