Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-05-30
Agricultural.
Thc Cost or Fcrtiii1ers.

Although the experiment stations have this
year adopted lower scale Of prices in esti-
mating the value of phosphate and nitro
genous fertilizers, our dealers are generally
selling at tho same rates as last year. The
farmers will buy these fertilizers but they
will not much longer pay the huge profits by
which the manufacturers and dealers grow
too rich at their expense.
DIR. Cutting in explanation Of his recent
report on tho analyses Of fertilizers sold in
this state, says that the prices used in max
ing the estimates are not intended to repre-
sent actual values but only the comparative
values of the different brands, He says
'There have been superphosphates manufac.
tured in Vermont that asssyed as much as
any sold in this section thst-if can believe
my eyes and the chemist and the statements
of reliable men-cost less than Sl4 per ton
Yet this does not make il true that super
phosphate Is worth but S14. Neither does
figuring up tho plant food constituents from
any standpoint place an actual cash value
It does not show the value limited to that
price, or that IL will benefit at all. would
as soon figure it at half as much, or double,
ns it would make no difference in comparisons
with each other, which was my only intent"
A manufacturer of fertilizers is said not to
be liable for selling any quality that comes
up to the lowest figure Of his guarantee. II
soluble phosphoro acid is guaranteed from
one to ten per cont, all the law will compel
him to furnish is one per cent. but it is
fairly represented TO contain at least an aver
age of 81 per cent. DR.. Cutting says that
taking an average Of the amounts guaran-
teed almost every manufacturer would be liza
BILE under the law. But taking, as he does,
the least he says that perhaps none of them
will be liable, though we do not exactly see
why, for, according to the:publshed analysis,
one honest manufacturers phosphate falls
below the lowest amount guaranteed.
The second bulletin of the secretary of the
board of agriculture gives the result Of the
analysis of all the different brands of fertil-
izers licensed to be sold in the state last year.
Unlike the first report it is adapted to the
scale of prices corresponding with that
adopted by the experiment stations. But the
prices upon which the estimates of the ex-
pertinent stations are based for the present
year are taken instead of the prices for the
year when the analyses were made. This is
fair, because it represents something nearer
the true cost to the manufacturer with fair
profit added, though the reduced estimates
are still, doubtless twenty per cent too high,
as DIR. Cutting says.
1t will DO seen by comparing the first re-
port of the secretary with his second report,
which appears in this weeks Phmnix, that
there is q wide difference in the estimated
values made from the same analysis The
difference by the two methods of computing
amounts in most cases to more than ten dol
lars per ton, aud in one instance to nearly
twenty dollars. Thus the Qunnipac phos-
phate, according to Prof Sabin's analysis,
was valued at Sal. rs at the prices of chcmi-
Gals used in the first report at the station
prices used in the second report the value of
the same is S3l.40. Pacific guano by the
first valuation was $45OS by the second it
is $3t5S. Stacks bone phosphate manufac-
tured at Springfield, Vt, was valued at S5S
81 by the scale Of prices first used by the
scale used in the last report, 500 1G These
differences show that the estimates are of lit
tie consequence except, as claimed for them
by DR.. Cutting, showing relative value.