Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-29
" "Comparative" or "Approximate."

Mr.. A. II. Ward, in the North Carolina
Farmer, is still sharply after the chemists
regarding the prices at which they estimate
the value Of the useful ingredients in COM
mercial fertilizers 1t is now more than
year since We took that subject up and
were these chemists prices absolutely too
high, but that there was distinction drawn
between Soluble" "reverted" " and ain
soluble "phosphates, which has little foun-
dation in the practical agricultural values
of those phosphates. As Mr. Ward is Co
laborer in this important field, and very
sharp and able one, we are glad to make use
of his communication TO our southern con-
temporary as follows;
ain c. W. D., Jr.'s answer to my criticism of
Bulletin No 1, he says; The board Of agricu-
ture does not arrogate to itself the power to fix
absolutely the prices which shall rule In this
trade. | have often explained that the
values are not intended as absolute, are only ap-
proximate, and are chiefly interesting giving
the farmer simple means Of comparing the diff
ferent fertilizers. In the March number he
says: These are based on the following prices
per pound Of the active Ingredients OF fertilizers
as proved by analysis, are adopted as practical
approximation to their value in our larger mar
kets: Available phosphorc acid twelve and a
half cents per pound; nitrogen, twentythree cents
ammonia, eighteen and nine-tenths cents per
pound; potash, eight cents per pound Are these
prices practical approximation Of their value?
that is the question, and it is not answered Is
eight cents pound for potash practical approx
imston when its market value is less than four
cents? and can be obtained in any quantity at
this price In the form OF muriate of potash in
which form it is used in fertilizers. Nitrogen is
valued at twenty-three cents. In an article in
the North Carolina Farmer of September, $780, is
an extract from the annual report for 1879 Of the
Connecticut experiment station which states the
absolute price OF nitrogen In New York at ten and
one-thrd cents pound. Is twenty-three cents an
approximate value? Phosphoric acid Is valued
insoluble three and half cents reverted nine
cents, soluble twelve and half cents The average
proportion of reverted to soluble in the fertilizers
sold is four to six. Is putting the reverted and
soluble at the highest price an approximate valua
ton? Is it not surprising that with these high
arbitrary, approximate ualuations, so-cslled by
the station, the fertilizers should be sold So pei
ton higher? In only four cases out of ffty-four
| believe does the commercial value per ton COME
up to the cash price per ton The valuations
should be revised and put at an approximate rea
value. Then it would be OF use to the farmers, a.
not only means Of comparing one fertilizer witt
another, but as giving them some idea of the cos
Of production, and then they would not be mislet
: and induced to pay fancy prices from the present
) (so-called) practical approximate valuations o
! the agricultural stations. As nitrogen is tn,
most costly ingredient of fertilizers, consumer
should know how much Of 1t in the fertilizer Il
Immediately available and how much is not
. They are very particular this point In regarc
to phosphoric acid, and in that case 1t has beer
e demonstrated by soil tests that more depend
!, upon how fine 1t is ground than upon its mmedi
. ate solubility. Dry peat yields two and hal
per cent Of nitrogen, and peat be obtain e,
on most farms it would be well to use 1t In tina
form, in which the nitrogen will cost about tw
cents pound. Phosphoric acid can be obtained
s finely ground, from the Charleston phosphates o
h Navassa guano Potash can be had in ashes o
the German salts Let the farmers, who use II
, quantity, buy these and mix them in the prope
proportions themselves. Those using in smale
u quantities can combine. and in this way they vii
s soon equalize the supply and demand OF manufaC
3 tured fertilizers, and will be able to buy them o
. the manufactures at fair prices"