INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



47 



comparison with similar results secured on fertilizers sold in 1934. The analytical 

 results secured in this study were obtained by the use of the method developed 

 by Professor W. H. Pierre of the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists have not adopted a method as 

 official for this work although they have recognized its importance and the problem 

 has been referred to the proper referee for cooperative study. The following 

 table shows the extent to which the mixed fertilizer sold in Massachusetts during 

 the years 1933 and 1934 contributed to soil acidity. It should be understood 

 that some brands were found to be basic and some were acid. Those that were 

 basic have been used to offset those that were acid in arriving at the net acidity 

 for each year. Both types have been figured on the tonnage sold in the State, 

 and the results given express both the acidity and basicity in terms of tons of 

 carbonate of lime. The net acidity is arrived at by deducting the total basicity 

 from the total acidity computed in terms of calcium carbonate. Data for each 

 manufacturer's brands are on file and will be furnished to the appropriate manu- 

 facturer upon application. 



Summary of Data on Acid and Basic Fertilizers. 



The above table indicates that ground dolomite or limestone is already being 

 used in many fertilizer brands. An increase of 2,612 tons of mixed fertilizer in 

 1934 contributed about the same net acidity as was found in the fertilizer output 

 for 1933. 



MASSACHUSETTS LAW REGULATING THE SALE OF COMMERCIAL 

 FERTILIZERS. 



The law regulating the sale of commercial fertilizers in Massachusetts was 

 revised in 1933. The full text of the law is given below, with the changes made 

 in the revision indicated by italics. 



(General Laws, 1920, Chapter 94, Section 1 and Sections 250 to 261, 



inclusive, as amended by Chapter 67, Acts of 1933.) 



Definitions. 



Section 1 (in part). The following words as used in this section and the other 

 sections of this chapter to which their definition is hereinafter respectively limited, 

 unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings: 



"Agricultural lime", in sections two hundred and fifty to two hundred and 

 sixty-one, inclusive, includes all the various forms of lime intended or sold for 

 fertilizing purposes or for neutralizing soil acidity. 



"Available phosphoric acid", in sections two hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 and fifty-four, inclusive, and two hundred and fifty-six to two hundred and sixty- 

 one, inclusive, the sum of the water -soluble and citrate-soluble phosphoric acid. 



