REPORT OF THE CHEMISTS. FERTILIZERS. I. FERTILIZER STATISTICS. 1. The quantity and value of the fertilizers used in New Jersey during the year 1895. 2. Comparison of this year's trade with that of preceding years. 3. The market prices of fertilizers. These statistics were taken by manufacturers from their books in answer to requests made by this Station. The reports were in each case returned on printed forms, of which the following is a copy: SALES OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. The following is a correct statement of the number of tons of the several classes of Commercial Fertilizers sold in New Jersey by during the year ending Number of tons of Plain Superphosphates, including both Dissolved Bone Black and S. C. Acid Phosphate.......... The above circular was mailed to 87 firms, 74 of which, including those that have the largest sales in this State, forwarded itemized statements. These indicate a total consumption for 1895 in New Jersey of 51,149 tons, divided as follows: 1. THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF THE FERTILIZERS USED IN NEW JERSEY DURING THE YEAR 1895. Although it is admitted that these statistics are incomplete, as they represent only about four-fifths of the manufacturers who sell fertilizers in this State, yet the firms which did reply represent the greater part of the fertilizers sold in the State; those manufacturers who have not replied, as a rule, being those whose total output averagesless than 50 tons per annum. As stated in previous annual reports, this statistical work is carried out without legal authority, the data being secured only through the courtesy of those manufacturers who, year after year, at their own expense, compile their reports in answer to direct requests. The inspectors who represent this Station report the retail prices of every brand sampled by them. These reports furnish the data from which the above average retail prices for complete manures are obtained. The average retail prices for kainit and all other products tabulated below it were secured from sales made directly by the manufacturers to farmers, consequently they do not include charges for freight, cartage, etc. The complete manures represent 76 per cent. of the total number of tons sold in 1895, and 82 per cent. of the total value of all sales. 2. COMPARISON OF THIS YEAR'S TRADE WITH THAT OF PRECEDING YEARS. The total sales reported in 1895 are somewhat less than those of the two preceding years. The complete fertilizers, 39,118 tons, are practically the same as in 1894, and indicate an expenditure of about $1,286,000. In raw materials an increase is noticed in all cases except dissolved bone, ground bone, sodium nitrate and bone-black superphosphate. The decrease in dissolved bone and ground bone is very marked. |