No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 31 



Complete fertilizers, contaiuiiig phosphoric acid, potash and 



nitrogen, 552 



Dissolved bone, containing phosphoric acid and nitrogen, .... 4 



Rock and potash, containing phosphoric acid and potash, 108 



Acidulated rock, containing phosphoric acid, 11)7 



Ground bone, containing phosphoric acid and nitrogen, 55 



Miscellaneous, containing potash salts, nitrate of soda, etc., . . 7 



Total samples analyzed in 1UU2, 92:} 



Under the old act, the Secretary had no power either to compel 

 l)ayment of the license fee, or to prosecute a manufacturer or dealer 

 whose goods fell below the guarantee marked upon the sacks. The 

 present law corrects these defects, and greatly aids in securing 

 prompt attention to correspondence and complian.ce with the re- 

 quirements of the law. 



The chemical determinations to which a complete fertilizer is 

 subjected are: 1, moisture; 2, phosphoric acid — ^soluble, reverted and 

 total; 3, potash soluble in water; 4, nitrogen; 5, chlorine, for the pur- 

 pose of determining the proportion of potash as a muriate. 



Ground bone is subjected to a mechanical analysis by means of 

 sieves, dividing it into fine and coarse. The diameter of the mesh 

 of sieve for fine bone being one-fiftieth of an inch, and that of the 

 coarse above this dimension. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO SAMPLING AGENTS. 



Fertilizer manufacturers sometimes allege that there have been 

 errors made on the part of our sampling agents in selecting samples 

 for analysis. It is due these manufacturers, as well as this Depart- 

 ment, that the greatest care shall be exercised on the part of all 

 connected with this work, to insure that the samples are fairly 

 taken, are properly sealed and labekd, and are sent to the chemist 

 in exactly the condition in which the goods were found. 



In order, therefore, that there may be uniformity of practice on tiio 

 part of our agents, the following instructioiis liave been prepared for 

 their guidance, and strict adherence to these directions is required: 



1st. — No sample shall be taken from the manufacturer's ware- 

 house, 



2d. — No agent shall draw more than two samples of any one 

 brand of fertilizer, unless for some special reason, which he shall 

 state in his report. 



