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: For Nitrogen, calculated as Ammonia, in "Fine" Bone__ 19 39 14 10 85432 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. 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: 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 diferent grades of fineness in the same sample is assumed to be the same. The variation is small in a pure ground bone. LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY >OF CALIFORNIA. MARYLAND Agricultural Experiment Station. SPECIAL BULLETIN J. COMPOSITION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS SOLD IN THIS STATE. COLLEGE PARK, MD. FEBRUARY, 1893. MARYLAND. Agricultural Experiment Station. Advisory Committee of Board of Trustees. GOVERNOR FRANK BROWN... THE HON. MARION DEKALB SMITH... THE HON. SPENCER C. JONES.... THE HON. MURRAY VANDIVER.. THE HON. DAVID SEIBERT.. Annapolis. Chestertown. Rockville. Havre de Grace. Clear Spring. Located on the B. & O. R. R., 8 miles N. of Washington, D. C. NOTE: Under the laws of Maryland, the inspection, sampling and analysis of commercial fertilizers is to be done under the auspices of the Maryland Agricultural College, by the Professor of Chemistry of the College. The results of these examinations, being agricultural information of value and general interest, will be published, from time to time, as Special Bulletins, from the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. These Bulletins will be mailed, free, to any farmer who asks for them. Address: MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND. INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF Commercial Fertilizers Sold in Maryland. BY DR. H. B. MCDONNELL, Professor of Chemistry, Maryland Agricultural College. This bulletin is a supplement to those previously issued in this series, under the same law and for the same purpose, as explained in those publications. On the following pages will be found analyses of samples, taken from different brands of fertilizers which have been received or collected by the Maryland Agricultural College, mostly during the fall season of 1892. The previous bulletins may well be referred to by persons who examine this, as they contain numerous explanations which are not repeated herein. Special attention is invited to the statements given on pages 7-8, regarding the Valuation of Fertilizers and the meaning of the last two columns of the Table. Unless the way in which the first of these columns is prepared is well understood, it may prove very misleading. Commercial fertilizers are analyzed for farmers free of charge, when sampled and sent as required by law, a strict observance of which is necessary for the protection of all concerned. observe the following DIRECTIONS FOR SENDING SAMPLES OF FERTILIZERS. [Extract from Laws of Maryland of 1890, Chapter 387.] Please SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That all samples of fertilizer, for analysis at the Maryland Agricultural College, shall be taken from unbroken packages that have not been injured in transitu or by exposure, and when in the possession of purchasers, within thirty days after coming into their possession; * *** and when ** taken by an owner or consumer it shall be taken in the presence of two disinterested witnesses; and every sample shall be taken from a bag or package, or a number of bags or packages, which shall be not less than five per cent. of the whole lot to which the sampling pertains, and in every case about two pounds shall be taken from near the top, the bottom, and the middle of the bag or package sampled, and these twopound lots shall be thoroughly mixed, in a clean and dry place, and a sample of not less than two or more than three pounds shall be taken from said mixture of samples and placed in a glass vessel or vessels, carefully sealed, with identifying labels, both within and without the vessel or vessels, and the same then taken or sent by safe carriage to the said College for analysis; and there shall accompany every such sample a full and complete statement and description of the place and time of sampling, of the lot of fertilizer sampled, of all marks on the bags or packages thereof, and other facts relating to the same; and such statement and description shall be signed by the person who does the sampling, and by the witnesses thereto Suitable blanks for description of samples, as required by law, will be furnished on application. Address: CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT, MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, College Park, Maryland. Table of Analysis and Valuation of Fertilizers Made at the No. Name of Fertilizer. Name and address of Manu- Place of Sampling. 757 Caroline Co. Mixture..... Baugh & Sons Co., Balti Ridgely.... more, Md. Edward L. Coulson, Balti- Fishing Point... more, Md. James Hartness Soap Co., Edgemont... Detroit, Mich. S. M. Hess & Bro., Reading Freedom.. Joshua Horner, Jr. & Co., Sykesville..... Joshua Horner Jr. & Co., Sykesville.... Hubbard & Bro. Easton, Md. Longwoods.... 715 Slaughter-house Bone dust. Joshua Horner Jr. & Co., Baltimore.... Baltimore Md. 758 Eagle Bone Phosphate.... Lechlider Bros., Hagerstown, Hansonville..... Md. 753 Shawnee Ammoniated bone G. Ober & Sons, Baltimore, Cambridge..... |