FERTILIZERS AND AGRICULTURAL LIME 19 



DRIED ANIMAL MANURES 



From tiuio to time, efforts have betm made to improve tlje (juality of the dried 

 animal manures being sold in this State. 



During the past year each sample analyzed also was examined microscopically. 

 Chemical analysis revealed in some samples serious deficiencies in the content of 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and/or potash. Microscopic examination showed that 

 some lots were grossly mislabeled. The contents of the bags in these lots sometimes 

 bore only a faint resemblance to the product named on the label. 



In the table of brands seriously deficient there are listed six lots that were 

 so bad they were withdrawn from sale either voluntarily by the registrant or at the 

 request of the Control Service. 



When notified of the high sand content and improper labeling of his product, 

 one manufacturer replied ". . . it is the writer's opinion, after forty years of ex- 

 perience in this exclusive field, that no one or no manufacturer has ever packed 

 or sold a 100 % sheep manure. For proof of that, the most popular brand on 

 the market up to a few years ago labeled as Sheep Manure contained over 95 % of 

 straw and foreign matter including dirt. . . . the public very apparently does not 

 care whether the product contains 1 % of Sheep Manure or no Sheep Manure just 

 =0 long as it is ifibeled Sheep Manure." 



From this it might be inferred that at least some dried animal manure suppliers 

 feel there is no fraud involved because those familiar with the processing and 

 packaging of animal manures allegedly know that most products labeled Sheep 

 Manure, Cow Manure, etc., contain very high amounts of sand, or straw and similar 

 materials, or both. 



]n a decision involving a Federal Trade Comm'ssinn order the Supreme Court 

 ruled otherwise, stating: 



''The fact thai a false statement may be obviously false to those who are trained 

 and experienced does not change its character, nor take away its power to deceive 

 others less experienced. There is no duty resting upon a citizen to suspect the 

 honestv of those with whom he transacts business. Laws are made to protect the 

 trusting as well as the suspicious. The best element of business has long since de- 

 cided that honesty should govern competitive enterprises, and that the rule of 

 caveat empior (buyer beware) should not be relied upon to reward fraud and de- 

 ception." 



The Massachusetts Fertilizer Control Service will continue its efforts to pro- 

 vide sardeners with dried animal manures of better qualitv. 



