CONTROL SERIES BULLETIN No. 41 DECEMBER, 1927 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 



INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



By H. D. Haskins, L. S. Walker and M. W. Goodwin 



191100 P^^liP'^i^^'*^^ S1]0SU^3^«^1!W 

 This, the fifty-fourth report of the Massachusetts FertiliJTeii- tintrol, shows 

 a larger number of brands inspected than in any previous year, and nearly a 

 9 per cent increase over 1926. This also holds true for tonnage sold, there 

 being nearly 7,500 tons more of mixed fertilizers and 5,300 tons more of 

 unmixed fertilizers than during the previous year. The "New England 

 Standard Nine" group comprised 9 per cent more of the tonnage of mixed 

 goods than during 1926. Of the mixed fertiUzers, 70 per cent showed an over- 

 run in all three elements of plant food; and most of the deficiencies shown 

 by the remaining 30 per cent were balanced by an overrun in the other ele- 

 ments, so that but few brands showed a commercial shortage. While this is 

 a great improvement over the previous season, there are indications that 14 

 per cent of the larger manufacturers are not allowing a sufficient margin of 

 overruns in the three plant food elements. The quality of the plant food 

 offered during the year has been fully up to the average. 



Requests for Bulletins should be addressed to the 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 

 AMHERST, MASS. 



Publication or this Document approved by the Commission on Administration and Finance 

 ; 3M l-'28 Order 913 



