20G 



Report of the Chemist op the 



1. Number and Kinds of Fertilizers Collected in 1896. 



During the entire year of 1896, we collected 749 samples of 

 commercial fertilizers, representing 574 different brands. It is 

 a matter of interest to notice to what extent dealers offer for 

 sale complete fertilizers, (those containing nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid and potash), compared wdth those containing only one or 

 two of these ingredients. It is also of interest to consider the 

 different forms in which incomplete fertilizers are offered for 

 sale. The following tabulated statement indicates the different 

 kinds of complete and incomplete fertilizers collected during the 

 year. 



In the spring collection 78.6 per cent of the brands offered for 

 sale consisted of complete fertilizers; in the fall, 60.6 per cent; 

 and, during the year, an average of 73.2 per cent. Of unmixed 

 materials, phosphoric acid was offered much more largely than 

 nitrogen or potash, the average for the year being about 9.5 per 

 cent of all brands offered. About the same number containing 

 phosphoric acid and nitrogen was found. It will be seen that 

 the mixture of phosphoric acid and potash was quite largely 

 used, averaging for the year about 14 per cent of all the brands 

 collected. 



