Report of the Chemist for Agriculture. 



819 



The average percentage, taking 47 samples of superpliospliate, 

 of 18*18 per cent, water soluble and 1'99 citrate soluble pbosphoric 

 acid, as disclosed bv analysis, is striking evidence of the high 

 standard of quality reached by this class of fertilizer. 



The nitro-superphosphates contain too large a percentage of 

 insoluble phosphoric acid, and too small a percentage of nitrogen, to 

 secure a similar position. They are, in many cases, mixtures of 

 superphosphates and bonedusts depending for their small content of 

 nitrogen for that contained in the added bone. Where invoice 

 certificates have been given, it was found that the guaranty of 

 nitrogen was below the figures actually found. The bonedusts may 

 be considered a fair average sample, although samples have been 

 sent in, by individual farmers, of an exceedingly low standard. 



Samples for the Determination of Unit Values. 



There is at present, no law making it compulsory for manure 

 manufacturers and importers to send to the Agricultural Chemist 

 samples of manures, together with the prices demanded for the year. 

 A number of merchants, however, do this voluntarily, and from this 

 list an attempt is made to calculate the unit values of the different 

 fertilizing ingredients. As the list, however, is by no means 

 complete, the figures cannot be regarded as anything more than 

 approximations, and the Amending Manure Bill, already introduced 

 to Parliament with the intention of remedying this, makes it com- 

 pulsory for all vendors to send in samples each year. 



The following list gives the results of the analysis of 45 samples 

 sent in voluntarily : — 



SUPERPHOSPHATES. 



