EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 517 



RESULTS OF INSPECTION. 



Of the 907 samples anah'zed representing 355 brands, 255 (27.1%) were 

 found to be below guarantee* in one or more ingredient. Sixty-four (7.1%) 

 were below guarantee in nitrogen, 2 (0.2%) were below guarantee in total 

 phosphoric acid, 75 (8.3%) were below guarantee in available phosphoric 

 acid and 150 (16.5%) in potash. This is a slight increase in the number 

 of deficiencies, compared with 1919 and a considerable increase when com- 

 pared to the results obtained for several years prior to 1919. This increase 

 in the number of samples found below guarantee is undoubtedly due, in 

 part at least, to the fact that during the war the fertilizer market was badly 

 upset, and has not yet returned to normal. However, this does not absolve 

 the manufacturer who consistently, year after year, has about the same 

 number of samples falling below guarantee. 



There is no provision in the fertilizer law for the payment of rebates on 

 fertilizer shipments found to be below guarantee, but the manufacturer 

 demonstrates his good vnll when he voluntarily takes care of such cases 

 as they are called to his attention. In many cases a fertilizer is found to 

 be below guarantee in one ingredient and to overrun the guarantee in some 

 other ingredient sufficiently so that the actual value is not really lowered. 

 This condition indicates imperfect mixing, or a lack of proper factory con- 

 trol, and while the purchaser is not defrauded from a financial standpoint 

 he still does not get what he contracted for and what he has a right to ex- 

 pect. 



In the following table a summary of the results of the inspection is given 

 This shows at a glance, the number of brands licensed by each companj^, 

 the number of samples analyzed and the number falling below guarantee in 

 one or more ingredient. In the last column is given the number of samples 

 whose value has been found to be SI. 00 or more per ton less than that guar- 

 anteed. A careful study of this table as well as the detailed results of anal- 

 ysis which follow should be made by all persons who intend to purchase 

 fertilizers for the coming season. 



*A .shortase of more than 0.10 per cent, of nitrogen or more than 0.20 per cent, available phos- 

 phoric acid or more than 0.10 per cent, potash is considered below guarantee. 



