REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF FERTILIZERS. 



The use of commercial fertilizers among the farmers of the State 

 is rapidly on the increase. Dealers in ever}' section report larger 

 sales the past season of the leading brands than ever before. 



Commercial fertilizers contain certain fertilizing ingredients which 

 give them A'^alue. These ingredients are Nitrogen, Pliospltoric Acid 

 and Potash. 



Nitrofjen is the most expensive fertilizing element. It occurs in 

 various forms or states. Organic nitrogen is the nitrogen of animal 

 and vegetable matters generall}-. The most active forms of Nitrogen 

 are ammonia and nitric acid., and are the result of the alteration of 

 organic nitrogen in the soil and in the manure heap. 



Soluble Phosphoric acid implies phosphoric acid or phosphates 

 that are freel}' soluble in water. "Insoluble" phosphates are ren- 

 dered "soluble" b}' treating them with sulphuric acid. ' Soluble 

 Phosphoric acid can be readily taken up by plants, and it can be 

 •distributed through the soil b}- rains. 



Reverted Phosphoric acid is phosphoric acid that was once soluble 

 an water, but from chemical change has become insoluble in that 

 liquid. It is understood to be readil}' assimilated b}' crops but it 

 does not distribute freel}' through the soil. 



Insoluble Phosphoric acid implies phosphate not readily soluble in 

 water. Raw bones are a source of supply, and it is also mined in 

 the form of South Carolina rock phosphate, Navassa phosphate, and 

 Canada apatite. 



Potash needs no description. It may be purchased in the form of 

 sulphate of potash, but is cheapest in the form of muriate of i)otash. 



These substances have not an absolutely fixed value in trade, 3'et 

 the prices are comparativel}' stead}' and never take a wide range. 

 Tlie values used in these estimates are intended to be the average 

 price in the markets during the year 1882, and are the same which 

 were used by the Massachusetts State Inspector of Fertilizers, and 

 at the Connecticut and New Jersey Experiment Stations. The 



