13 



The fertilizer collection for 1915 has been in charge 

 Collection of of our regular inspector, Mr. James T. Howard, who 

 Fertilizers. has had charge of this important work for many 



years. He was assisted by Mr. R. C. Tate, who also 

 helped in the collection of samples for the season of 1912. These two 

 men worked together a part of the time, beginning in the east section 

 of the state. Mr. L. O. Stevenson, a graduate of the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural College, took care of the inspection in the Connecticut 

 Valley districts. Mr. Stevenson was an experienced man, having 

 helped with the collection for the season of 1913. The sampling be- 

 gins in early winter, when large quantities of cottonseed meal are 

 bought by the farmers in the Connecticut Valley as a nitrogen source 

 for tobacco. The local farmers also buy large quantities of wood 

 ashes which are usually shipped in bulk. These materials are sampled 

 upon call from the purchaser, each carload being analyzed by itself 

 so that in case of a deficiency a rebate may be asked for. Arrange- 

 ments can usually be made with the station to sample these two ma- 

 terials and other fertilizers, but application should be made as early 

 as possible. Wherever it is impossible for us to send a man to take 

 the samples, a sampling tube will be forwarded by express, together 

 with instructions in regard to the proper method of procedure. 

 Samples thus taken can subsequently be forwarded under seal by 

 express to the experiment station. 



Our usual inspection season begins about April 1st and continues 

 through May, this being about the time when the mixed fertilizers 

 are being distributed. During this time it is planned to sample 

 every brand of fertilizer and chemical registered and sold in the 

 State of Massachusetts. The sampling is always done by the use of 

 a tube which takes a core of fertilizer the entire length of the bag. 

 Ten per cent of the number of bags present are always sampled and 

 never less than ten bags, providing that number is present. Wood 

 ashes and lime, if shipped in bulk, are sampled by means of a tube, 

 portions being taken from at least thirty different places in the pile, 

 providing the pile represents a carload lot. 



Towards the close of the season, after the "state has been can- 

 vassed, if certain brands are not found the manufacturer is asked to 

 locate the same. If a brand is not thus located the manufacturer 

 is asked to send a sealed, certified sample. The analyses of such 

 samples will be found listed in the fertilizer bulletin under the name 

 of "Manufacturers' Samples". 



It is planned to take duplicate samples of the various commer- 

 cial fertilizers in different parts of the state, as it is believed that the 

 analysis of a composite is more representative than the analysis of 

 one sample, which may represent only a small tonnage. 



As in the past our inspectors have taken samples of large ship- 



