25 



National Fertilizer Co., Chittenden's High Grade Top Dressing 

 No. 1108. Nitrogen found 7.9G%, guaranteed 8.23%; available 

 phosphoric acid found 7.50%, guaranteed 7.00%; potash found 8.24%, 

 guaranteed 8.00%. 



New England Fertilizer Co., New England Market Garden Ma- 

 nure No. 510. Nitrogen found 3.93%, guaranteed 4.10%; available 

 phosphoric acid found 6.81%, guaranteed 7.00%; potash found 

 7.29%, guaranteed 7.00%. 



Ross Bros. Co., Worcester Special Lawn Dressing Fertilizer No. 

 902. Nitrogen found 2.57%, guaranteed 2.88%; available phos- 

 phoric acid found 8.21%, guaranteed 8.00%; potash found 3.82%, 

 guaranteed 4.00%. 



A. H. Wood & Co., Wood's 777 Fertilizer No. 981. Nitrogen 

 found 7.00%, guaranteed 7.00%; available phosphoric acid found 

 7.73%, guaranteed 7.00%; potash found 4.79%, guaranteed 7.00%. 



QUALITY OF PLANT FOOD. 



In the medium and high grade complete fertilizers 



Character of 52.6 per cent, and in the low grade goods 43.1 per 



Nitrogen. centof the total nitrogen was from mineral sources. 



This is a somewhat larger proportion of mineral 

 nitrogen than can be safely used on some hoed crops, for if 

 a ton or more should be applied to the acre the crop might receive 

 too much soluble nitrogen in the early stages of growth, and on light 

 soils, in case of a wet season, one could expect more or less loss through 

 leaching. The increased use of the mineral forms of nitrogen in mixed 

 goods is no doubt due to its lower cost, a condition which will not be 

 likely to change much from year to year. The increased tonnage of 

 the mixed commercial fertilizers each successive year means a greater 

 demand for the organic ammoniates, and the failure of the supply in 

 meeting this increased demand can only result in the higher cost of 

 the organic forms of nitrogen. 



The following deductions are made regarding the quality of the 

 organic nitrogen in the various grades of mixed fertilizer: 



The high and medium grade fertilizers carried 47.4 per cent and 

 the low grade fertilizers 56.8 per cent of the total nitrogen in organic 

 form. Thirty cases were noted where organic ammoniates of low 

 grade were used at least as a part source of the organic nitrogen. 

 Some cases among this number may have resulted from the use of the 

 organic ammoniates as a conditioner to improve the physical charac- 

 ter of the goods. If such cases did occur our inspectors failed to note 

 any mention of the use of such low grade materials either on the sten- 

 cil or tag. These questionable nitrogen sources were distributed as 

 follows: 13 from low grade, 4 from medium and 13 from high grade 

 goods. This is about the same condition as was noted during the 

 season of 1913. 



