Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-19
ANALYSES OF Superphosphates.

Enclosed | send two analyses made by
Prof. johnson of New Haven, Ct, OF super
phOsphates. :,
Soluble Phosptoric Acid. 7,slprct, Iss pr ct.
l an3odoGie u so SIS
The value of these several constituents is
estimated III cents per pound for the Soluble
Phosphoric Acid, 4 IL cents for Insoluble
Phosphorfc Acid, and II cents per pound for
Ammonia, since these may be obtained from
other sources at such prices. By calculated
we find the ton of 1000 pounds to lie worth
$33 70 for No. l, and S2S, As for Nd. 2. The
prices calculated are in gold and may readily
be converted into currency, and we find that
gold being / II the No. is worth S37 81 {,
No. 2 S3O.62 No. l is a sample analysed
Of E. F. Goes superphospbate, No. a
sample Of Bradley's superphosphate
| hope you may consider this of sufficient
interest and value to the farmers of Vermont
to give it place in your paper.
PETER COLLIER.
Burlington, March Is, 1871.
Our readers, and especially those who at
tended the recent meeting Of the Board Of
Agriculture at St. Johnsoury, will be glad to
see, in the above letter, evidence of the
promptness with which the Secretary of the
Board has responded to the wishes expressed
with so much unanimity by them in regard
to reliable information upon the question OF
the actual value Of some of the most popular
brands Of fertilizers.
To prevent all misapprehension in refer
ence to this subject, we de-ire to say that the
cost price set against the various constituents
is Dc signed to indicate the cost Of those con-
stituents to the manufacturer. Of course
purchasers must not expect to get the manu-
featured article at the same rate Allowance
must be made for the various expenses at
tendant upon manufacturing, the legitimate
profit Of the manufacturer, the cost Of freight,
and the commission or profit Of agents and
dealers How much should be allowed for
these we are not (neither Is Professor Coz
lier,) in a position to state with accuracy
At the present selling price Of these phos-
pilates something like thirty or thirty-hve
dollars per ton Is added to the cost price, az
gwen by Prof johnson. This may, or may
not be too much.
One thing is evident from these analyses,
which is that both of the kinds tested are
honest in composition, genuine suPerPhos-
pilates. and therefore valuable fertilizers. Ii
there is anything that can be called cheating
about them, it is in the price, and not IN the
article itself And this is a matter that
competition is likely to remedy, IN time, If
not Immediately. We will add that we
have strong reason to believe that the pro-
portion OF soluble phosph oric acid in the
Bradley phosphate IS usually considerably
higher than in the sample analysed by Prof.
johnson.
Since writing the above, we have received
from Prot Collier copy of pamphlet Re
port Of Prot johnson upon Commercial Fer
tllizers, in which the prices Of the ingredients
of commercial superphosphates are some
what modified soluble phosphoric acid be
ing set at 10 IA cents, insoluble ditto SIX
cents, ammonia twenty-five cents currency
This would increase the cost Of the super
phosphates named about sixteen per cent,
or say S43 per ton Tor Goes and $50 for
Bradley - Vermont Farmer.