278 Report of the Chemist of the 



INTRODUCTION. 



NUMBER AND KINDS OF FERTILIZERS COLLECTED. 



During the entire year of 1898, we collected 1,427 samples of 

 commercial fertilizers, representing 901 different brands. It is a 

 matter of interest to notice to what extent dealers offer for sale 

 complete fertilizers (those containing nitrogen, phosphoric acid 

 and potash), compared with those containing only one or two of 

 these ingredients. It is also of interest to consider the different 

 forms in which incomplete fertilizers are offered for sale. The 

 following tabulated statement indicates the different kinds of com- 

 plete and incomplete fertilizers collected during the year. 



Classes of Fertilizers Collected in 1898. 



In the spring collection 78 per cent of the brands offered for 

 sale consisted of complete fertilizers; in the fall, 68.5 per cent, 

 and during the year an average of 76.5 per cent. Of unmixed 

 materials, phosphoric acid was offered much more largely than 

 nitrogen or potash, the average for the year being about 8 per 

 cent of all brands offered. A smaller number containing phos- 

 phoric acid and nitrogen was found. It will be seen that the 

 mixture of phosphoric acid and potash was quite largely used, 

 averaging for the year over 11 per cent of all the brands collected. 



composition of fertilizers collected in 1898. 

 The tabulated statement below shows the average composition 

 of the complete fertilizers collected during the year, together 

 with a comparison of the guaranteed composition and that found 

 by analysis. 



