436 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



on the market, to analyze the sample forwarded by the manufacturer, 

 as required by law, at the time of applying for the license. It has long 

 been known that these samples were generally if not always made up 

 in the laboratories of the companies and were not, therefore, representa- 

 tive of the product as put on the market. For this and other reasons 

 we have discontinued this practice and in this bulletin the brands not 

 represented by samples are listed in their proper places but are not given 

 a laboratory number and only the guaranteed analysis is shown. 



In many cases vseveral samples of the same brand were drawn and 

 analyzed. This, of course, greatly increases the work in the laboratory 

 but it is the only way by which we can ascertain if the brands are run- 

 ning uniform. If only one sample were analyzed, or if several samples 

 were taken and composited before being analyzed, variations in the 

 composition would not be detected. 



ANALYSIS OF MISCELLANEOUS SAMPLES. 



On account of the large amount of work involved in the inspection 

 of fertilizers our laboratory force is kept busy constantly with samples 

 collected by the inspectors. It is therefore impossible for us to give at- 

 tention to miscellaneous fertilizer samples sent to us. Furthermore, 

 unless the samples are taken in the manner previously described they 

 will not truly represent the lot or shipment of which they were a part 

 and the analysis of such a samj^le would be an ilijustice either to the 

 manufacturer or purchaser. 



In all cases where doubt arises as to tiie merits of any particular ship- 

 ment, we suggest that this office be notified and an inspector will be 

 sent to make an investigation and draw an official sample. 



RESULTS OF INSrECTION. 



A study of the tables of analyses show that, of the 1,08.3 samples ana- 

 lyzed, representing 342 brands, 207 (21.7%) are below guarantee* in one 

 or more constituent. Seventy-seven (7.1%) are below guarantee in 

 nitrogen, 9 (0.8%) are below guarantee in total phosphoric acid, 98 

 (9.0%) are below in available phosphoric acid and 1-12 (13.1%) in 

 potash. 



In making a careful study of the tables of analyses it will be noted 

 that the majority of deficiencies are confined to a comparatively few 

 companies. For example one company contributes 2G per cent of all 

 the brands found below guarantee, three companies contribute 49 per 

 cent of the deficient brands and eight companies contribute 75 per cent 

 of the brands showing deficiencies. In other words, 20 per cent of the 

 manufacturers are res])onsible for three-fourths of all the deficiencies. 



It is not claimed that these deficiencies are the result of wilful at- 

 tempts to defraud the i)urchasers, in fact, we believe this is not the case, 

 but the fact remains nevertheless, that a few companies are responsible 

 for tlie majority of the deficiencies and whether these result from ])re- 

 meditated plans or from poor factory management the results are the 

 same and the purchaser must sutler the loss. 



*A Bhortage of more th.an 0.10 per cent of nitrogen or more tban 0.20 per cent available phosphoric 

 acid or more than 0.10 per cent potash Is considered below guarantee. 



