262 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FERTILIZERS. 



(a) INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.* 



The inspection of ihe various l)rands of fertilizers sold in the State 

 has for its olijeet (1) the comparison of the actwal composition of 

 these brands with the guaranteed composition, this being required by 

 law, and (2) the determination of their relative values. In carrying 

 out this inspection the fertilizers must be sampled in the hands of 

 dealers or consumers, analyzed, and their values are then calculated 

 on the basis of ruling commercial prices. 



Since the Station was organized in March, 1885, one hundred and 

 seventy- seven samples of fertilizers have been examined, represent- 

 ing forty brands. 



Onh' the analyses made during the present year (1887) appear 

 in this report. There are given below the analyses of seventy-three 

 samples, taken from thirty brands, with such preceding explanations 

 as are deemed necessary for a clear understanding of the main facts 

 l)ertaining to the composition of commercial fertilizers, and of the 

 real significance that the analvses and valuations have for the con- 

 snmer. 



Valuable Ingredients of Fertilizers. The ingredients of com- 

 mercial fertilizers upon which both their agricultural and commercial 

 values chiefly depend are nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. 

 Besides these more valuable ingredients, sulphuric acid and lime 

 are always present in superphosphates in considerable quantities, 

 being a necessary accompaniment of phosphoric acid as it exists in 

 nearly all manufactured fertilizers. 



Nitrogen is the most costly of the three important ingredients 

 mentioned, and adds largely to the commercial value of all the 

 fertilizers sold in Maine, with one or two exceptions. It is found in 

 the markets in quite a variety of substances which are used to supply 

 this ingredient to mixed fertilizers, but which are available for fertil- 

 izing purposes when purchased unmixed with an3'thing else. 



Nitrate of soda, a compound of nitric acid (aqua fortis) and soda, 

 and sulphate of ammonia, a compound of sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) 



*The explanations in regai-d to the compositon and valuation of fertilizers which ai-e made 

 under this head are mainly reprinted from the report for 1885-6, with such changes as are neces- 

 sary. The apology for quoting so largely from a previous report, is that there are no new facta 

 to be stated, and that to express the old f\icts in a new form would probably not add anything 

 in value or clearness to the explanations already made. 



