23 



Year. 



Average of 5 years, 1910-14, 

 1920, 



Total 

 Number 



of 

 Brands. 



321 

 232 



High-Analysis 



Brands (14 Units 



OR Over). 



Number. Per Cent 



220 

 147 



68. 5 

 63 4 



Low-Analysis 



Brands (Less than 



14 Units). 



Number. Per Cent. 



101 



85 



31.5 

 36. 6 



In case of mixed fertilizers without potash (ammoniated superphosphates) 

 an average for the past five years — ■ that is, from 1916 through 1920 — shows 

 that 69.8 per cent of the total number of brands sold in Massachusetts fur- 

 nished less than 14 per cent of available plant food, and according to the above 

 classification would be designated as low analysis. 



The tonnage of the two grades of mixed complete fertilizers and ammoniated 

 superphosphates sold in Massachusetts for 1920 was as follows: — ■ 



Tons. 



High-analysis complete fertilizers, 24,383 



Low-analysis complete fertilizers, 13,136 



High-analysis ammoniated superphosphates, 1,978 



Low-analysis ammoniated superphosphates, 7,271 



The above table indicates that a slight improvement has been made in the 

 mixed fertilizer offerings during the more recent years, amounting to about 

 5 per cent in favor of the high-analysis goods. It is evident, however, both 

 from the statistics given in the table and from the tonnage statement given for 

 1920, that altogether too large a number of low-analysis fertilizers are being 

 purchased by our farmers. \Miether this is the fault of the farmer in demand- 

 ing a mixed fertilizer which costs less per ton, or whether it is due to the fact 

 that the fertilizer manufacturer realizes a greater profit on the low-analysis 

 brands, may be an open question. The fact remains, however, that the actual 

 cost to the farmer of plant food in the low^-analysis goods greatly exceeds that 

 of the plant food in fertilizers of higher analysis. This is illustrated in the 

 following table : — 



