310 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SIXTH ANTSrUAL REPORT ON FERTILIZERS. 



Gentlemen, — The results of the examination of commer- 

 cial fertilizers during the past year have been, on the whole, 

 quite satisfactory. From fifty to sixty articles used for fer- 

 tilizing purposes within our own State have been tested. 

 The analytical statements regarding their chemical composi- 

 tion form the principal portion of m}^ annual report, which I 

 have the honor to present herewith, in conformity with our 

 State law, presented on pp. 312, 313. 



The majority of our standard fertilizers sold the past year 

 compare favorably, as far as their composition and their 

 mechanical condition are concerned, with their namesakes 

 of previous years. Some manufacturers of nitrogenous phos- 

 phates and superphosphates have added potash to their 

 articles to render them more complete, and thereby increase 

 their chances of a successful application in the field. The 

 number of different brands of fertilizers has for the same 

 reason, of late, shown a material increase. The late general 

 tendency among manufacturers has apparently been to pro- 

 duce articles varying in cost from thirty-five to forty-five 

 dollars per ton of two thousand pounds, at their works : 

 higher-priced articles are still rather the exception than the 

 rule. This feature in our fertilizer trade is, no doubt, 

 largely due to two causes. 



First, Most farmers are better informed regarding the 

 mode of applying a fertilizer of a moderate strength than 

 strong chemicals, and prefer it still as the safer material to 

 secure satisfactory results. 



Second, INIany farmers, being but little familiar with the 

 peculiar character of the essential constituents of chemical 

 fertilizers, are not prepared to discriminate properly between 

 low-priced or high-priced artieles and their relative cheap- 

 ness, taking a low cost and cheapness for synonymous terms. 

 The market-price of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassa 



