198 Report of the Acting Director and Chemist of the 



XVI. Analyses of Fertilizers Collected During the Fall of 1895. 



Summary of Eesults of Analysis of Fertilizers Collected 

 During the Fall of 1895. 



During the fall of 1895, there were collected 288 samples of com- 

 mercial fertilizers, representing 182 different brands. 



Of these 182 different brands, 133 contained nitrogen varying in 

 amonnt from 0.10 to 5 per cent. The average of all the guarantee- 

 analyses was 1.60 per cent, of nitrogen, while the average amount 

 found by the Station analysis was 1.75 per cent. 



There were 181 brands which contained available phosphoric acid, 

 varying in amount from 5.56 to 16.81 per cent. The average amount 

 of available phosphoric acid found by Station analysis exceeded the 

 average guarantee-analysis by 0.85 per cent., the average of all the 

 guarantee-analyses being 9.12 per cent, and the average actually 

 found being 9.97 per cent. 



There were 153 brands which contained potash, varying from 0.55 

 to 49.02 per cent. The average amount of potash found by our 

 analysis exceeded the average guarantee-analysis by 0.33 per cent., 

 the average of all the guarantee-analyses being 2.75 per cent., and 

 the average nctually found being 3.08 per cent. 



The retail price of the brands analyzed varied from $16 to $48 a 

 ton and averaged $26.70. 



Of the 182 different brands collected, 76 were below the manu- 

 facturer's guarantee-analysis in one or more constituents, in amount& 

 varying from 0.01 to 2.91 per cent. 



The amount of nitrogen was below the guarantee- analysis of the 

 manufacturer in 27 brands, the deficiency varying from 0.01 to 1.15 

 per cent, and averaging 0.18 per cent. In 24 of the 27 brands, the 

 deficiency was not greater than 0.25 per cent.; in 1 brand, it was 

 over 0.25 and below 0.50 per cent. ; in 1 brand, it was over 0.50 and 

 below 1 per cent. ; in 1 brand, the deficiency was shghtly over 1 per 

 cent 



The amount of phosphoric acid was below the manufacturer's 

 guarantee-analysis in 33 brands, the deficiency varying from 0.02 to 

 2.91 per cent, and averaging 0.58 per cent. In 14 of the 33 brands, 

 the deficiency was less than 0.25 per cent. ; in 10 cases, it was above 

 0.25 and below 0.50 per cent. ; in 2 brands, it was above 0.50 and 



