10 CONTROL SERIES No, 45 



slightly in excess of that -for the previous season. A double strength tobacco 

 mixture, 10-4-10 grade, was sold to the extent of 75 tons. A rather new innova- 

 tion this season was the introduction of a double strength 2-8-2 (4-16-4) of which 

 222 tons were sold. The sales of the regular 2-8-2 grade were reduced from last 

 season 215 tons, which is a httle more than made up by the 222 tons of double 

 strength goods. A double strength mixture carrying a minimum of 60 per cent 

 available plant food is being imported from Germany, although to date no sales 

 at retail have been reported to this office. 



It is apparent that the double strength mixtures have come to stay, although 

 their general adoption will very likely be slow. One of the factors that would 

 contribute very largely to a greater interest in these mixtures is an efficient, 

 domestic machine of medium price that will properly distribute the relatively 

 small acre application called for by these concentrated fertilizers. 



The following statistics are secured by a further study of the preceding tables: 



1. About 67.5 per cent of the total tonnage sold was mixed fertilizer and 32.5 

 per cent unmixed fertilizing materials. This is a 2.5 per cent larger proportion 

 of mixed goods than during the previous season. 



2. Of the 47,626 tons of mixed goods sold, 99.8 per cent were complete fertil- 

 izers and .2 per cent were ammoniated superphosphates and superphosphates 

 with potash. 



3. Of the 47,583 tons of mixed complete fertilizers, about 93 per cent were 

 high-analysis (14 per cent or over of available plant food) and 7 per cent low- 

 analysis. This lacks 5 per cent of being as good a showing for the high-analysis 

 fertilizers as in 1927. The reason for this was the substitution of the tobacco 

 grade 5-3-5 for the 5-4-5 of previous years. 



4. Of the 44,303 tons of high-analysis complete fertilizers, about 80 per cent 

 were furnished by 11 grades and 171 brands, and 88 per cent were furnished by 



19 grades and 212 brands. 



5. There were 2,342 tons more of low-analysis complete fertilizer sold during 

 the season in Massachusetts than for the previous year. About 84 per cent of 

 the tonnage of the low-analysis complete fertilizer was furnished by one grade 

 (5-3-5) comprising 13 brands, and 94 per cent was furnished by two grades and 



20 brands. 



6. The tonnage of the ammoniated superphosphates and superphosphates 

 with potash was almost negligible, a total of 43 by 3 brands being the only returns 

 made. 



7. The tormage of the fertilizer simples was distributed as follows: nitrogen 

 products 49 per cent; phosphoric acid products 43 per cent; and potash products 

 8 per cent. These figures do not include tankage, fish, bone or wood ashes, 

 which furnish more than one plant food constituent and comprise over 16 per 

 cent of the total tonnage of the immixed fertilizing materials. 



Distribution of Tonnage as Related to the "New England Standard Nine" 

 Grades of Mixed Fertilizer. 



At a joint meeting of the New England Agronomists and member companies 

 of the National Fertilizer Association held January 27, 1928, in Boston, a.revision 

 was made in the "New England Standard Nine" grades of mixed fertihzers. 

 These nine grades are supposed to represent a suflBciently wide choice of ratios 

 to satisfy average New England requirements. The following table shows the 

 actual distribution of toimage in Massachusetts as related to this revised list : 



