horic Acid 8 " " 4c .32
Insoluble Phosphoric Acid 3 " " 2c .06
Potash 10 " " 5c .50
-----
Total $1.17

In one ton the whole value would be twenty times this or $23.40. Add
to this $8, which is about the average charge for mixing, bagging,
shipping, selling and profit, and we find that $32 is probably the
lowest figure at which this fertilizer could be purchased on the
markets, and very likely the price would be higher as we have taken
the lowest guaranteed per cent. of plant food for our basis of
calculation.

Fertilizers are generally mixed and sold to the farmer on the ton
basis.

LOW GRADE MIXTURES

Most dealers, to meet a certain demand, furnish mixtures ranging from
$15 to $25 per ton. These mixtures are necessarily low grade and are
more expensive than the higher priced high grade mixtures.

For example:

A certain potato fertilizer on the market, which we will call mixture
A, has the following guaranteed analysis:

Ammonia 7 to 8 per cent.
Available Phosphoric Acid 6 to 7 "
Actual Potash 5 to 6 "

A ton of this would contain:

Pounds.
Nitrogen 115.4 value at 171/2c $20.19
Available Phosphoric Acid 120 " " 4c 4.80
Potash 100 " " 5c 5.00
----- ------
Totals 335.4 $29.99

Add to this the average charge for mixing, bagging, selling, profit,
etc., $8, and the cost will be $37.99.

The selling price of this fertilizer would probably be not less than
$40. Now suppose the farmer thinks this a high priced and expensive
fertilizer and looks about for something cheaper. He finds a low grade
potato fertilizer, which we will call mixture B, that has the
following guarantee:

Ammonia 31/2 to 4 per cent.
Available Phosphoric Acid 3 to 31/2 "
Actual Potash 21/2 to 3 "

Just one-half the guarantee of the high grade mixture A. A ton of this
contains:

Pounds.
Nitrogen 57.7 value at 171/2c $10.10
Available Phosphoric Acid 60 " " 4c 2.40
Potash