INSPECTOR OF FERTILIZERS. 307 



Messrs. Wheeler and Lynde were nominated and con- 

 firmed as members of the Examining Committee of the Agri- 

 cultural College. 



Professor Goessmann, State Inspector of Fertilizers, then 

 [submitted his 



SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT ON COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 

 To the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture. 



Gentlemen, — The beneficial influence of our laws re- 

 garding the sale of the various commercial articles used for 

 the fertilization of our farm-lands becomes more manifest 

 from year to year. A well regulated competition stimulates 

 here, as elsewhere, a healthy business enterprise, and ulti- 

 mately benefits all parties concerned. The trade in commer- 

 cial fertilizers has been quite active during the past year. 

 The general character of most of our compound standard 

 fertilizers has been, on the whole, quite satisfactory. These 

 articles have of late been steadily improving so far as their 

 mechanical conditions are concerned, and are in many in- 

 stances well qualified for a desirable uniform distribution to 

 secure a speedy, efficient action. Coarse mixtures contain- 

 ing large proportions of insoluble ingredients are of an ex- 

 ceptional occurrence. 



The wholesale market-price of the various brands of com- 

 pound fertilizers at the depots near the factory is more gen- 

 erally found to correspond with the cost of their constitu- 

 ents in the general market. The fluctuations in the price 

 of most substances turned to account for fertilizing purposes 

 were but slight during the spring; and no material changes 

 in that direction have been noticed during the fall, with the 

 exception of that of Chili saltpetre. The war between Chili, 

 Bolivia, and Peru, has of late more or less interfered with 

 the importation of that article. Although the varieties of 

 compound fertilizers offered for sale in our State have not 

 diminished in numbers to any marked extent, it is not less 

 a fact worthy of notice, that more dealers have engaged in 

 the sale of chemicals, indicating an increased demand for 

 these substances on the part of intelligent farmers, to sup- 

 plement their home resources of manures. This new feature 



