INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



11 



Distribution of Tonnage as Related to the Present "New England Stand- 

 ard Nine" Grades. 



The following table shows the actual distribution of tonnage in Massachusetts 

 as related to this revised list: 



a Including 177 tons of double-strength, 8.23 (10)-16-14. 



b Including 228 tons of 4.11 (,5)-10-5 and 4 tons of 6.58 (8)-16-8. 



c Including 76 tons of 8.23 (10)-5-10. 



d Including 68 tons of 8.23 (10)-4-10. 



An analysis of the above table shows that of the ten grades having the highest 

 tonnage (31,132 tons), only four, totaling 21,262 tons, were members of the present 

 "New England Standard Nine." 



In round numbers, 55 per cent of the total tonnage of mixed fertilizers was among 

 the "Standard Nine" grades, as compared with 59 per cent for 1928. About 31 

 per cent additional tonnage was from grades varying from the "Standard Nine" 

 in but one per cent in one or more plant food elements, so that 86 per cent fell 

 within or varied but one per cent in one or more elements from this group. 



Of the total tonnage of mixed fertilizers, 24 per cent was from six grades not 

 recommended in the "Standard Nine" group. These six grades with their stand- 

 ing as regards tonnage are: 4.11 (5)-3-5, third largest; 2.47 (3)-8-4, fourth largest; 

 4.11 (5)-4-5, sixth largest; 5.76 (7)-6-5, seventh largest; 3.29 (4)-8-7, eighth largest; 

 5.76 (7)-3-7, ninth largest. All of these six grades vary but one per cent in one or 

 more plant food elements from the "Standard Nine" group. 



It may be noted that the adoption of the new method of expressing nitrogen in 

 place of ammonia when stating grade throws one of the "New England Standard 

 Nine" grades, 4.94 (6)-3-6, into the low-analysis group. This should be remedied 

 by substituting the 5.76 (7)-3-7 grade unless the manufacturers decide when 

 changing to the nitrogen system to state the nitrogen in round numbers cor- 

 responding to the present ammonia figures. 



