16 



Home Soap Co., Tankage No. 863. Nitrogen found 4.51%, 

 guaranteed 11.00%; phosphoric acid found 20.37%, guaranteed 

 .68%. 



Another sample of this brand, No. 1341, rart about the same in 

 composition, — 4.64% nitrogen and 19.80% phosphoric acid being 

 found. 



As soon as this shortage was discovered, the sales of the product 

 were suspended until a thorough investigation could be made. The 

 evidence accumulated indicated that the company, which grinds 

 only a small amount of bone and tankage, which are by-products 

 from rendering fat for soap manufacture, had submitted a sample for 

 analysis and the report showed the high nitrogen which was guaran- 

 teed, the assumption being that the product would run constant in 

 composition. New tags, bearing a revised guarantee, were secured 

 by the company, and affixed to the stock on hand and in possession 

 of agents, and sales of the product were allowed to continue. There 

 was no evidence secured which would indicate a disposition to mis- 

 represent, but rather an error in judgment in assuming that one 

 analysis would give sufficient analytical data upon which to base a 

 statement of guarantee. The company was cautioned and advised 

 to have more frequent analyses made in order to keep a closer check 

 on the variation in composition gf the product. 



The other two brands which have been mentioned as showing 

 commercial shortages are not as serious cases as the one just reviewed. 



Lowell Fertilizer Co., Lowell Animal Tankage, Nos. 159-162. 

 Nitrogen found 4.69%, guaranteed 4.92%; phosphoric acid found 

 14.29%, guaranteed 14.00%. 



Springfield Rendering Co., Ground Tankage, No. 1232. Nitro- 

 gen found 6.56%, guaranteed 7.40%; phosphoric acid found 15.51%, 

 guaranteed 12.00%. 



Dry Ground Fish. Thirty samples of fish were inspected, ne- 

 cessitating nineteen analyses. One was found deficient in nitrogen, 

 and three in phosphoric acid. The average retail cash price has been 

 $52.46 per ton. The average total nitrogen found was 8.35 per cent, 

 of which 72.10 per cent was found active by the laboratory method. 

 The average per cent of phosphoric acid was 5.04. Allowing four 

 cents as the value of a pound of phosphoric acid, the nitrogen in dry 

 ground fish has cost on the average twenty-eight cents per pound. 

 Only one brand was found to have a commercial shortage. 



Berkshire Fertilizer Co., Dry Ground Fish, Nos. 137-369-704. 

 Nitrogen found 7.97%, guaranteed 8.23%; phosphoric acid found 

 6.56%, guaranteed 6.00%. 



