674 



Report on Inspection Work of the 



(2) In materials such as acid phosphate, potassium chloride 

 (muriate), bone, tankage, sheep manure, mixtures of acid phosphate 

 and potash, wood-ashes and compounds containing calcium, a larger 

 proportion of samples is below guaranty than is desirable from the 

 purchaser's standpoint. 



A clearer understanding of what these values mean can be gained 

 from Table XXIII, in which we give the commercial valuation of 

 the extreme surplus and deficiency and also of the average for each 

 plant-food constituent on the basis of one ton. 



While the general averages show, in case of almost every material, 

 a greater value in plant-food than is guaranteed, it is obvious that, 

 when we come to consider special cases, the loss to the purchaser is 

 one of serious magnitude. For example, we find dried blood contain- 

 ing $3.69 less plant-food than guaranteed; muriate of potash, S3. 90; 

 tankage, $6.90 ($1.68 nitrogen and $5.22 phosphoric acid); ground 

 fish, $4.13, etc. 



III. SOME DEFECTS IN THE PRESENT FERTILIZER LAW. 

 Until 1910 the law relating to the sale of commercial fertilizers 

 made it a violation if chemical analysis showed a deficiency below 

 the manufacturer's guaranteed statement of composition exceeding 

 one-third of one per ct. of nitrogen or one-half of one per ct. of phos- 

 phoric acid or of potash or, in case of bone, one per ct. of phosphoric 

 acid. In 1910 the section of the law relating to deficiencies in con- 

 stituents was changed so as to read as follows: " It shall also be a vio- 

 lation of the provisions of this article if any commercial fertilizer or 



