20 



MIXED COMPLETE FERTILIZERS. 



A study of the tables of analyses of the complete fertilizers shows that 

 out of a total of 108 brands analyzed, 47 (43.5 per cent, of the total number) 

 fell below the minimum guarantee in one or more elements. The deficiencies 

 were as follows: — 



Brands deficient in one element, 35 



Brands deficient in two elements, 9 



Brands deficient in three elements, 3 



Twenty-one brands (19.4 per cent, of the total number) showed a com- 

 mercial shortage. The deficiencies in the several ingredients were as follows : — 



Brands deficient in nitrogen, 21 



Brands deficient in potash, 32 



Brands deficient in available phosphoric acid, 13 



The summary of commercial shortages in the year's inspection, as com- 

 pared with 1917, is given in the following table: — 



Number of Brands. 



COMMEKCIAL SHORTAGES. 



More than $6 per ton, 



Between $4 and $5 per ton 



Between $3 and S4 per ton 



Between $2 and S3 per ton 



Between $1 and 82 per ton, .... 

 Under $1 and not less than 25 cents per ton. 



The following brands have shown a commercial shortage of $1 or over per 

 ton, values of over-runs being used in all cases to reduce shortages: — 



American Agricultural Chemical Co. — Bradley's Potato Fertilizer, 1916, 

 Nos. 228, 533, 617: nitrogen found, 2.01 per cent., guaranteed, 2.06 per cent.; 

 available phosphoric acid found, 8.09 per cent., guaranteed, 8 per cent.; 

 potassium oxide found, .81 per cent., guaranteed, 1 per cent. 



Armour Fertilizer Works. — Armour's 2-8-3 Brand, Nos. 189, 235, 257, 

 360, 394: nitrogen found, 1.61 per cent., guaranteed, 1.65 per cent.; avail- 

 able phosphoric acid found, 8.22 per cent.; guaranteed, 8 per cent.; potas- 

 sium oxide found, 2.71 per cent, guaranteed, 3 per cent. 



Another sample of the same brand, Nos. 466, 511, 543, 602, 658: nitrogen 

 found, 1.63 per cent., guaranteed, 1.65 per cent.; available phosphoric acid 



