CONTROL SERIES. BULLETIN NO. 2. DECEMBER, 19U. 



MASSACHUSETTS 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 



STATION. 



INSPECTION OF 



Commercial Fertilizers 



BY — 



H. D. HASKINS, L. S. WALKER, C. P. JONES and W. S. FROST. 



This bulletin gives a detailed report of the fertilizer inspection 

 for 1914. It states the number of fertilizers inspected, gives trade 

 values of fertilizer ingredients, provides a summary showing average 

 composition of unmixed fertilizing material as well as pound cost of 

 each element of plant food furnished. Special attention is called to 

 commercial shortages existing in both unmixed fertilizing materials 

 and mixed goods. Particular emphasis is laid upon the economy of 

 purchasing only high grade fertilizers. A summary table shows the 

 general standing of each manufacturer's brands. A discussion is 

 made of the quality of plant food found present in the mixed goods. 

 A brief explanation of a vegetation experiment is made to show the 

 efficiency of the alkaline permanganate method as an indication of 

 the activity of water insoluble organic nitrogen. A summary table 

 shows the general quality of nitrogen found in each manufacturer's 

 product. Mention is made of the number and nature of the lime 

 products analyzed. Tables of analyses give the detailed composition 

 of all fertilizers and lime products sold in the state. A brief state- 

 ment of a field experiment is given to show the actual crop producing 

 power of the "New Mineral Fertilizer" and other stonemeal products. 

 Commercial valuations of the plant food in all fertilizing materials, 

 calculated from the table of trade values, are published, and for the 

 lime compounds, the actual cost of 100 pounds of calcium and mag- 

 nesium oxide is given in each case. 



Requests for bulletins should be addressed to the 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 



AMHERST, MASS. 



