The Adulternh'on of Art.'tfinn^ Frrtilirnn^. loOo 



THE ADULTERATION OF ARTIFICIAL 

 FERTILIZERS. 



Bii F. J. Hoirell, Fh. D. 



The very large quantity of artificial fertilizers now used in Vic- 

 toria^ especially in the Northern wheat-growing- ureas, requires that 

 every protection should be afforded by the Department of Agriculture 

 against possible frauds. There is a wide spread opinion existing 

 among the farmers that a large quantity of very inferior manure is 

 distributed and sold each year by manure merchants. Although 

 investigations seem to show that the plain su])erphospbates, generally, 

 come up to the re(|uired standard, there is evidence that in a number 

 of cases of bonedusts, nitro-superpbosphates, &c., the articles do not 

 reach the standard of quality guaranteed by the invoice certificate. 

 With the object of securing information as to the quality, generally, 

 (if artificial fertilizers sold to farmers, and securing information as to 

 whether the provisions of the Manure Act were being complied with 

 in other directions, tliis office sent out a number of field officers 

 throughout the State to collect samples for analysis, and to make 

 inquiries in the direction specified. In addition to this, communica- 

 tions have been sent to all important Agricultural Societies asking 

 for their co-operation with the department in ])rotecting the farmer 

 from fraud. 



For the information of the farmer as to what has been done by 

 the Agricultural Laboratory in this direction, copies of letters and 

 reports, sent out to these societies, are reproduced in the Journal and 

 are given below. 



Agricultural Laboratory, 



440 Lonsdale Street, 

 'J'he Secretary, Melbourne, iGth August, 1904. 



Agricultural Society. 



Dear Sir, 



I am forwarding you the results of the analysis of the manures gathered by my 

 field officer in your district. I will kindly ask you to have this brought under the 

 notice of your farmers and made public. I have had similar investigations carried out 

 in other centres The failure to provide Invoice Certificates in so many cases has come 

 as a surprise. It would have been advisable, if I had the officers for the work, to have 

 collected the samples earlier in the season, as the manures with long keeping have lost 

 some of their moisture, and this makes them somewhat higher in phosphoric acid than 

 they would show with the original moisture. However if men are provided for me next 

 year I hope to have samples collected early. Instructions have been given to pro- 

 secute vendors in your district failing to comply with the provisions of the Manure 

 Act. These are all local men, and in order that all offending Alelbourne firms should 

 equally suffer, I should like to be informed of cases where the farmer has purchased 

 direct from a Melbourne firm without receiving a Certificate. I am therefore sending 

 you a number of forms which you might get filled in and signed by farmers. I am 

 i^orwarding you a report of my investigations in all districts which field officers have 

 visited. The matter is one which will interest farmers generally, and I would advise 



