1914. 



PUBLIC DOCmiENT — No. 31. 



21a 



in connection with fertilizers and feeds, with the multiplication 

 of brands. The comparative number of official samples for the 

 past few years clearly shows this growth. 



Number of Official Samples. 



The table shows the number of brands of complete fertilizers 

 and agricultural chemicals sampled in the State during each 

 of the years since 1909. In that year the total number was 

 458; in 1913 it had grown to 5Yl. In the latter year the 

 number of brands of potato fertilizers offered for sale in the 

 State was no less than 90. It is not easy to say, since registra- 

 tion has only recently been required, how many kinds of feed 

 mixtures are offered for sale in the State, but the number is 

 clearly very large. This matter is referred to for the reason 

 that there can be no question that the continued multiplication 

 of brands of fertilizers and feed mixtures increases the cost to 

 the consumer, who in the last analysis must pay the costs of 

 advertising, agencies, analyses, etc. The greater the number 

 of kinds the gTcater these costs, and therefore, unless the kinds 

 so differ from each other that each fills some special need or 

 requirement which no other could fill equally well, this constant 

 multiplication of kinds is to be deprecated. There are with- 

 out doubt many more kinds, both of fertilizers and feeds, offered 

 in our markets than are needed. ISTo one will attempt to main- 

 tain for a moment that we need ninety kinds of potato fertilizers, 

 nor is it possible that we need nearly six hundred different 

 brands of fertilizers or over two hundred kinds of feeds. A 

 reduction in the number would be a distinct advantage, both 



