(9) Duplicate samples should be drawn by inspectors and sealed in the pres- 

 ence of a witness or witnesses. 



(10) The percentage of nitrogen should be required and also a guaranty 

 stating the amount of available nitrogen just as soon as methods for its satis- 

 factory determination shall have been adopted by the Association of Official 

 Agricultural Chemists. 



(11) Available and total phosphoric acid should be guaranteed. 



(12) Potassium should be guaranteed as potash (potassium oxid). 



There was an extended discussion on the desirability of including water-solu- 

 ble phosphoric acid in the guaranty as part of the available. There was no 

 agreement upon this point, but it was left open for further discussion in case 

 the committee should come together at a subsequent time to consider again the 

 matter in a more authoritative way. 



A point which excited a great deal of discussion in the meeting of the two 

 committees was that in regard to meeting the expenses of fertilizer control. It 

 was contended on the part of the manufacturers that no difference how a tax 

 might be levied on them for defraying the expenses of inspection, it would be in 

 the end paid by the farmers, inasmuch as any additional expense would be 

 charged in the price of the fertilizers. On the contrary, the report was men- 

 tioned that fertilizers which in some States are required to pay a tax of 50 cents 

 a ton, were sold to the farmers at precisely the same price as in other States 

 where no inspection tax was levied. It was the general opinion of the commit- 

 tees that a tax should be assessed upon the fertilizers sold, of a magnitude which 

 would fully pay the expense of inspection, but that it would not be a wise plan 

 to attempt to raise a revenue in excess of that expense by such a tax. 



It was further suggested that to prevent the undue multiplication of brands a 

 special tax on each brand sold should be collected. 



It was the unanimous opinion of both committees that an attempt should be 

 made to unify the various State laws in regard to fertilizer control, and that the 

 best beginning in this direction would be secured by formulating a general law 

 which might be adopted by those States not yet having a fertilizer law, but 

 which may enact one in the near future. Gradually the States which already 

 have laws relating to fertilizer control could be brought to see the advisability 

 of changing their legislation to make it conform to the general principles guiding 

 the stations exercising fertilizer control and governing the manufacturers of and 

 dealers in fertilizers. 



In order that the movement to secure a more uniform method of fertilizer 

 control may have an official indorsement, it was the unanimous opinion of the 

 committee that the matter should be referred to the Association of Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations and to the Association of Official Agricultural 

 Chemists, with the recommendation that each association appoint separate com- 

 mittees, or that the two associations appoint a joint committee to continue the 

 further agitation in regard to this matter. 



It is suggested, therefore, that the two associations mentioned authorize their 

 respective presidents to confer together and appoint a joint committee, which 

 shall take the place of the present committee, to have authoritative power to 

 act in the matter. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



H. J. WHEELER, 

 H. P. ARMSBY, 

 C. D. WOODS, 

 H. W. WILEY, 



Committee. 



