FERTILIZERS AND AGRICULTURAL LIME 3 



Although some of the shortages noted are of a serious nature, in twenty of the 

 twenty-nine samples the shortages in one plant food element are accompanied by 

 large overruns in other plant food elements, indicating either improper mixing or 

 the occurrence of segregation after mixing. Most of the serious deficiencies found 

 may be attributed to mistakes on the part of the manufacturer or to the unavoid- 

 able variations which may be considered as almost inherent in any product as 

 complex in composition and manufactured in tonnages as large and in grades as 

 varied as is mixed commercial fertilizer. With no intention of minimizing the 

 importance of the obligation on the part of the manufacturer to maintain the 

 guarantees on his products as scrupulously as possible, it is, nevertheless, only 

 fair to state that none of the shortages found in mixed fertilizers during 1941 

 appears to be the result of a deliberate attempt to defraud the consumer. 



PERTINENT FACTS RELATING TO MASSACHUSETTS 

 FERTILIZER LAW 



Commercial Fertilizers 



Registration is required annually on January 1 . 



Registration fee is $8 for each element: nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, 

 magnesia. 



Label must show: 



Net weight of fertilizer 

 Name, brand or trade mark, and grade 

 Name and address of manufacturer 



Guaranteed analysis: nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, water soluble 

 potash. A guarantee of total phosphoric acid may be used instead of 

 available phosphoric acid for bone, untreated phosphate rock, tankage, 

 dried and pulverized manures, ground seeds, and wood ashes 

 Tonnage reports are required semi-annually, on January 1 and July 1. 

 Tonnage fee: 6 cents per ton of 2,000 pounds. 



Lime Products 



Registration is required annually on January 1. 

 Registration fee: $12 for each brand. 



Label must show : 



Net weight of product * 



Name, brand or trade mark, and form of lime 

 Name and address of manufacturer 



Guaranteed analysis: calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, carbonates of calcium 

 and magnesia, or calcium sulphate (in gypsum or land plaster) 



'Make checks payable to Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and 

 send correspondence to 



PHILIP H. SMITH, 



Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station 



Amherst, Mass. 



