INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 7 



Of the 45,339 tons of complete fertilizer sold, 72 percent was furnished by 9 

 grades and 140 brands. Double- and multiple-strength grades totaled 3,358 

 tons and 36 brands, which was 91 tons more than during the previous year. Al- 

 though the total tonnage of complete fertilizers shows a decrease of 3,188 tons, or 

 6.6 percent, the double- and multiple-strength grades show an increase of 91 tons, 

 or 2.8 percent. This indicates a continuing trend toward the manufacture of 

 higher grade fertilizers. 



Of the mixed fertilizer sold, 98.6 percent contained 14 percent or over of avail- 

 able plant food. 



There were 263 tons less of low-analysis (less than 14 percent available plant 

 food) complete fertilizers sold than in 1937. The 5-3-5 grade, comprising 8 

 brands, furnished 84 percent of the tonnage of this class of goods. 



In the following table are listed ten of the most popular grades of mixed fer- 

 tilizer together with the tonnage of each sold in Massachusetts for the years 1937 

 and 1938. 



The following table shows how the tonnage sold in 1938 corresponds with the 

 New England Standard Nine grades selected by the New England Agronomists 

 in 1931. 



a Including 10 tons of 10-16-14. 



b Including 1,494 tons of 8-16-16, 675 tons of 8-16-14, and 264 tons of 12-16-12. 



( Including 547 tons of 5-10-5 and 5 tons of 15-30-15. 



d Including 65 tons of 10-5-10 and 48 tons of 8-4-8. 



e Including 241 tons of 8-16-20. 



/ Including 204 tons of 4-16-20. 



Of the total tonnage of mixed fertilizer sold in Massachusetts, 62 percent was 

 from grades recommended by New England Agronomists to meet New England 

 conditions, and 22 percent additional tonnage was from grades varying but one 

 percent in one or more plant food elements from the grades thus recommended. 



