184 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sumer would be greatly appreciated. In all cases of failure to find a 

 brand on the market, the analysis was made on the manufacturer's 

 sajnple as indicated in the tables of analyses. 



RESULTS OP INSPECTION. 



A study of the tables of analyses shows that, of the 171 samples 

 analyzed, representing- 149 brands, 43 (25%) are below giiarantee* in 

 one or more constituents. Fifteen (9%) are below guarantee in nitrogen, 

 8 (4.6%) are below guarantee in available phosphoric acid and 30 

 (17.5%) are below guarantee in potash. Seven (4%) are below guar- 

 antee in nitrogen and jjotash, 2 (1%) in nitrogen and available phos- 

 phoric acid, 3 (2%) in available phosphoric acid and potash and 2 (1%) 

 in nitrogen, available phosphoric acid and potash. 



This is a decidedly better showing than last year and there can be 

 no question but that every company doing business in the state this 

 year is doing its best to liv"e up to the requirements of the law and the 

 deficiencies should be considered as accidental rather than as deliberate 

 attempts to defraud. 



COMMERCIAL VALUATION. 



In accordance with the custom adopted and followed in previous 

 years, the following schedule of prices for determining the commercial 

 valuation of a fertilizer is published : 



Nitrogen 18i/^c per pound. 



Potash soluble in water 5c " " 



Available phosphoric acid 5c " " 



Total phosphoric acid in bone 4c " " 



Insoluble phosphoric acid in fertiliz- 



ers containing nitrogen 2c 



u u 



In fertilizers containing no nitrogen no value is given to insoluble 

 phosphoric acid. The valuation of a fertilizer is determined as follows: 

 The percentage or pounds per hundred of each ingredient (nitrogen, 

 available phosphoric acid, insoluble phosphoric acid and potash) is mul- 

 tiplied by 20, giving the number of pounds of each ingredient in a ton. 

 These figures are then multiplied by their respective pound prices. 



It should be clearly borne in mind that, in publishing these prices, 

 the station does not assume to dictate the price at which fertilizers shall 

 be sold. Owing to the fluctuation in prices, differences in cost of delivery 

 at different points, and other causes, the obtaining of true average market 

 prices is an impossibility. The schedule of prices has been used by 

 the station simply as a means of comparing the value of fertilizers as 

 guaranteed by the manufacturer with the value of the samples as col- 

 lected in the open market. Purchasers will often find these prices of 

 use in comparing the relative values of similar brands offered by different 

 manufacturers. 



* A shortage of more than 0.10 per cent of nitrogen or of more than 0.20 per cent of available 

 phosphoric or potasli is considered below gnjarantee. 



