336 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and valuations of 19G samples of fertilizing materials, including- home- 

 mixed and factory-mixed fertilizers, acid phosphate, nitrate of soda, 

 tankage, bone, muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, muck, wood 

 ashes, crematory ashes, and cotton waste. Bulletin 59 summarizes 

 data previously published in Bulletins 57 (E. S. R., 9, p. 36) and 58 

 of the station. 



"The station has analyzed [during the spring of 1897] samples of 134 distinct 

 brands, the output of 20 companies, all drawn from dealers' stocks and (with one 

 exception) this year's goods. The number of brands sold in the State is rapidly 

 increasing. Two-thirds of the total number were above guaranty in every respect 

 and five-sixths were essentially equal to or better than guaranty. Sixteen brands 

 fell short more than 0.20 per cent in one, five were lacking in two ingredients, and one 

 was below guaranty throughout. In one of the five cases both ingredients were 

 seriously deficient. Shortages in one ingredient were not made good (commer- 

 cially) by excess of other ingredients in seven brands, a part of the output of three 

 companies. In one case analysis and guaranty were found to be widely apart in 

 two ingredients, although an equivalent of plant food was given. Ninety-four per 

 cent of the entire number of brands contained the commercial equivalent of their 

 guaranties. One hundred and two brands were guaranteed (directly or inferen- 

 tially) to contain potash as sulphate, a claim which was verified in but 17 cases. 



"The application of pepsin digestion and Hayes-permanganate distillation meth- 

 ods to the several brands indicated that the class of materials furnishing organic 

 nitrogen was almost without exception above reproach. 



"The average 'valuation' was $19.47 and the average selling price $29.19, an 

 advance of 50 per cent over valuation. One dollar out of every three invested in 

 fertilizers paid for cost of manufacture and sale. A dollar spent for average low- 

 priced goods (below $29) bought 64 cts. worth of plant food; a dollar invested in 

 average medium- grade brands ($29 to $35), 69 cts. worth; and a dollar paid out for 

 average high-priced goods ($35 and upward). 72 cts. worth. 



"The average composif ion of the goods has not varied materially from that of last 

 year. Selling prices are lower and plant food cheaper than ever before in the history 

 of the trade." 



The home mixtures, 5 samples of which were examined, "compared 

 favorably in chemical composition and mechanical condition with the 

 better class of mixed goods as found on the market. So far as heard 

 from, the mixtures gave good results in the held.'' In 9 samples of 

 muck the nitrogen varied from 1.4 to 3.13 per cent; in 11 samples of 

 wood ashes the soluble potash varied from 2.45 to 8.21 per cent, and 

 the total phosphoric acid from 1.8 to 5 per cent. 



The fertilizer control station {North Carolina Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp> 

 X-XVI). — This includes statements relating to the number and source 

 of fertilizers examined during the year, the extent of the fertilizer trade 

 in the State during 1894-'96, digest of fertilizer laws now in force, 

 increase in number of brands and the difficulty in a proper control, 

 the valuation of fertilizers, and a list of bulletins containing fertilizer 

 analyses. 



The number of brands of fertilizers sold in North Carolina in 1896 

 was 006 (as compared with 541 in 1895), classified as follows: Sim- 

 ple superphosphates, 107; superphosphates with potash, 08; ammoni- 

 ated superphosphates, 398; ammoniated superphosphates without pot- 



