REPORT OF BUREAU OF INSPECTION. ICQ 



Melville of Presque Isle and was a portion of Lowell Fertilizer 

 Company's brand known as Lowell Potato Grower Four-Eight- 

 Four, with a guaranty of ^.28 per cent to 4.10 per cent nitrogen ; 

 8.00 per cent to 9.00 per cent available phosphoric acid ; four per 

 cent to five per cent potash. The report of analysis showed 2.95 

 per cent nitrogen ; 7.84 per cent available phosphoric acid ; 3.28 

 per cent potash. 



A hearing was immediately arranged with the Lowell Ferti- 

 lizer Company, and this hearing was followed by other inter- 

 views between the sales manager of the fertilizer company and 

 this department ; a fine of $50 was at last imposed, which fine 

 was paid. One fact, quite interesting to note in connection with 

 this afifair, was that — at the request of the fertilizer company — 

 a portion of the sample was returned to them for analysis, and 

 the sales manager stated at the hearing that the report of their 

 chemist agreed essentially with the report made by the experi- 

 ment station at Orono, the only variation being a slight dififer- 

 ence in the phosphoric acid content. 



In general, the marked deficiency in all samples — where any 

 variation has occurred — has been a shortage of available phos- 

 phoric acid. Even though the amount of total phosphoric acid 

 has been maintained, in nearly every case where a sample has 

 fallen down, it has been in available phosphoric acid. As a 

 result of these findings, all the companies selling goods of this 

 nature have been notified and, in most cases, they have been very 

 prompt with their explanations. At the present time, there are 

 a few cases remaining unsettled. 



The results of the analyses of fertilizer samples will be found 

 in Official Inspection No. 80. 



Fungicides .and Insecticides Inspection. 



As reported last year, there has been a clearer understanding 

 between the manufacturers of fungicides and insecticides and 

 the Bureau of Inspection as to the adjustment of registrations, 

 although through the year we have received occasionally the 

 statement from some correspondent to the efTecf that the law is 

 not constitutional. It is gratifying to report that we have had 

 less difficulty in arranging the registrations than ever before. 



