22 



nitrogen deficiency amounting to .54 per cent. This was offset by an over- 

 run in potassium oxide of nearly 1.50 per cent, and a small over-run in avail- 

 able phosphoric acid. Another sample, No. 932, showed a serious commercial 

 shortage. The analysis was as follows: nitrogen found, 1.51 per cent., guar- 

 anteed, 2 per cent.; available phosphoric acid found, 1.67 per cent., guaran- 

 teed, 3 per cent.; potassium oxide found, 2.19 per cent., guaranteed, 3 per 

 cent. The company has the following to say in regard to the poor showing of 

 their product: " We buy only the highest grade materials that can be pur- 

 chased, all materials are analyzed upon receipt at the factory and we have the 

 services of a competent chemist. The only explanation which can be offered 

 is that prior to January 1, 1918, the manufacture of the product was in charge 

 of a man who left our employ January 1, and has since organized a competitive 

 company. We feel sure that no deficiencies will be found on goods manufac- 

 tured since January 1, 1918." 



Charles W. Hastings. — Ferti-Flora, No. 496: nitrogen found, 3.17 per 

 cent., guaranteed, 3.25 per cent.; available phosphoric acid found, 3.01 per 

 cent., guaranteed, 3.67 per cent,; potassium oxide found, .12 per cent., guar- 

 anteed, 3.30 per cent. The explanation of Mr. Hastings with reference to the 

 lack of potash, as well as other deficiencies in his product, is that the chemicals 

 which go into his liquid fertilizer were purchased from the Eastern Chemical 

 Company of Jamaica Plains and were used in exactly the same proportions 

 as in previous years. Inquiry regarding the Eastern Chemical Company 

 shows that they have gone out of business, the manager of the company going 

 into military service. Further efforts to explain the shortages were, therefore, 

 impossible, according to Mr. Hastings. It was his opinion, however, that the 

 chemicals did not contain the potassium oxide expected. Owing to the in- 

 creased difficulty in securing pure chemicals, the manufacture of Ferti-Flora 

 solution will, according to Mr. Hastings, be discontinued for the duration of 

 the war. 



International Agricultural Corporation. — Buffalo Economy, No. 844: ni- 

 trogen found, 1.29 per cent., guaranteed, 1.65 per cent.; available phosphoric 

 acid found, 10.32 per cent., guaranteed, 10 per cent.; potassium oxide found, 

 .45 per cent., guaranteed, 1 per cent. 



Buffalo General Favorite, No. 842: nitrogen found, .80 per cent., guaran- 

 teed, .80 per cent. ; available phosphoric acid found, 7.53 per cent., guaranteed, 

 7 per cent.; potassium oxide found, .78 per cent., guaranteed, 1 per cent. 



The manufacturer's comment on these deficiencies is shown by the follow- 

 ing: " We know of no rieason for the deficiencies shown; and four analyses of 

 each brand, made by the company's chemist during the shipping season, 



