8o 



] ournal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[lo Feb., 1911. 



and Super "' sold by him this year. In the manufacture of superphosphate 

 approximately 50 per cent, of gypsum is formed by the acid treatment and 

 this is a constituent part of the finished product. 



Still another fallacy existing among tillers of tlie soil is due to the 

 manner in which manures are guaranteed on invoice certificates and labels. 

 The analysis, as given on these documents, does not total 100 simply be- 

 cause the percentage or parts per hundred of fertilizing constituents only 

 are given. Farmers are altogether wrong in assum.ing from this data that 

 the rest is sand or other worthless matter. Take, for example, a super- 

 phosphate guaranteed on the invoice certificate and label to contain 17 

 per cent, water soluble phosphoric acid, i per cent, citrate soluble phos- 

 phoric acid and 2 per cent, citrate insoluble phosphoric acid, making a 

 total of 20 per cent, phosphoric acid. 



The complete analysis of this manure would be something akin to the 

 following : — ■ 



A bonedust stated on the tag and invoice certificate to contain 4 per 

 cent, of nitrogen and 22 per cent, phosphoric acid would give a complete 

 analvsis as follows : — 



Organic Matter. 



Tri-Calcic Phosphate. 



Other Mineral 

 Matter. 



10 per cent. 30 per cent. 



( containing 4 per cent. 

 Nitrogen). 



48 per cent. 



(containing 22 per cent. 



Phosphoric Acid) 



12 per cent. 



It will therefore readily be seen that the analysis of a manure as given on 

 invoice certificate and label does not profess to be a guide as far as com- 

 plete composition is concerned. 



Farmers have at different times asked the mode of procedure when 

 manure on delivery at the farm is suspected to be of low grade. The in- 

 formation is given under sections 11 and 13 of the Artificial Manures Act 

 No. 1930 and is as follows: — 



(i) Written notice (registered letter) must be given to the manufacturer, vendor, 

 or agent wirhin fourteen days of his (the farmer's) intention to have the manure 

 sampled and analyzed. 



(2) In sucli notice he shall offer to divide a't any time within fourteen davs in the 

 presence of the manufacturer, dealer or agent a sufficient sample. 



(3) The sample taken from not less than 10 per cent, of the parcel, and after being 

 well mixed is divided into three separate parts and then and there each part placed 

 in a dry glass bottle and properly marked and sealed. The bottles are to be signed 

 by purchaser and agent or representative. 



(4) One bottle is delivered to the manufacturer, vendor or agent, one is retained 

 for future comparison, and the third is submitted to the Government Agricultural 

 Chemist or an official analvst, either personally or by registered post. 



(5) If the manufacturer, vendor or agent does not within ten days after service 

 of the notice accept the offer of the purchaser, as above, the proceedings go on without 

 him, but it is always preferable to obtain a police constable as a witness. 



