456 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc. 



The average potash percentages, commercial valuations and selling 

 prices for the brands analyzed in the fall of 1913 and during the 

 present season, are as follows: 



/ 



1913 



a 



o 

 o 



o 

 ■a 



G 





1914 



a 



o 

 o 



t3 



a 



K 



Potash, per cent 



Commercial valuations, 

 Average selling price, 



3.50 



$15 42 



15 21 



The average potash percentages in the 1914 fall goods are about 

 one per cent, less than in 1913 fall goods, and the selling prices are 

 correspondingly less. This means that, for the fall trade of this year, 

 the manufacturers have not materially changed their charges for the 

 potash contained in mixed fertilizers. The selling prices of the com- 

 paratively few lots of potash salts found upon the market and re- 

 presented by figures in the table of miscellaneous analyses show, 

 on the other hand, a very large price increase, though by no means the 

 highest of those here and there given this season for such materials. 



It is deserving of comment that the deficiencies in potash are not 

 greater in number than in preceding seasons. 



For the purpose of indicating more specifically to the eye, cases 

 deficient from guaranty, an asterisk has been affixed in the analytical 

 tables where the ingredient has been found less in quantity than the 

 manufacturer guaranteed. Too great emphasis should not be placed 

 upon very slight deficiencies, because very slight imperfections in 

 mixing and slight variation in analysis are practically unavoidable. 

 The asterisk has been used, therefore, only in cases where the de- 

 ficiencies amount to 0.2 per cent, or more except where nitrogen has 

 been guaranteed in amounts no higher than 1.0 per cent., in which 

 case an asterisk has been affixed where the deficiency amounts to 

 0.1 per cent, or more. 



The cases of departure of goods from their guaranteed composi- 

 tion observed this season, including only those cases in which an 

 asterisk has been affixed, were as follows: 



Summary of Instances of Deficiency from Guaranty. 



a 

 o 



■O 



a 



3 



o 



Deficient in four constituents, 



Deficient in three constituents 



Deficient in two constituents 



Deficient in one constituent, 



Total number of samples in which deficiencies 

 occur, 



