388 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It was formerly the custom, whenever we failed to find a brand ou the 

 market, to analyze the sample forwarded by the manufacturer, as required 

 by law at the time of applying for the license. It has long been known 

 that these samples were generall}^ if not always, made up in the labora- 

 tories of the companies and were not, therefore, representative of the 

 product as put on the market. For this, and other reasons, we have dis- 

 continued this practice and in this bulletin tlie brands not represented by 

 samples are listed in their proper places but are not given a laboratory 

 nund)er and only the guaranteed analysis is shown. 



In many cases several samples of the same brand were drawn and ana- 

 lyzed. This, of course, greatly increases the work in the laboratory, but 

 it is the only way by which we can ascertain if the brands are running 

 uniform. If only one sample were analyzed, of it several samples were 

 taken and composited before being analyzed, variations in the composition 

 would not be detected. 



ANALYSES OF MISCELLANEOUS SAMPLES 



On account of the large amount of work involved in the inspection of 

 fertilizers our laboratory force is kept busy constantly with samples col- 

 lected by the inspectors. It is, therefore, impossible for us to give atten- 

 tion to miscellaneous fertilizer samples sent to us. Furthermore, unless 

 the samples are taken in the manner previoush^ described they will not 

 truly represent the lot or shipment of which they were a part and the 

 analysis of such a sample would be an injustice either to the manufacturer 

 or purchaser. 



In all cases where doubt arises as to the merits of any particular ship- 

 ment, we suggest that this office be notified and an inspector will be sent 

 to make an investigation and draw an official sample. 



RESULTS OF INSPECTION 



A study of the tables of analyses shows that, of the 8G3 samples ana- 

 lyzed representing 279 brands, 187 (21.7%) are below guarantee in one or 

 more constituent. Fifty-four (6.3%) are below guarantee in nitrogen, 5 

 (0.6%) are below guarantee in total phosphoric acid, 55 (6.4%) are below 

 in available phosphoric acid and 98 (11.4%) in potash. This is a decided 

 improvement over the showing made last year, and represents about the 

 normal or pre-war percentage of deficiencies. 



A summary of the results of the inspection is given in the following 

 table : 



