FERTILIZERS AND AGRICULTURAL LIME 11 



termine the best fertilizer grades for different soils and crops, and the number of 

 grades now sold in this country is probably in excess of 1,000. If a fertilizer of a 

 certain grade is better adapted to a given set of conditions than any other, then 

 the effectiveness of the fertilizer must necessarily be impaired by any segregation 

 that would change the grade of the fertilizer in the process of its distribution in 

 the field." 



Under the heading "Approximate commercial shortage per ton" is shown the 

 commercial valuation of the deficiencies or tests found below the guarantee. No 

 allowance is made for the value of overruns in other elements which are above 

 guarantee. The manufacturer makes a definite guarantee regarding the minimum 

 percentage of each element which each grade shall contain. If a farmer buys a 

 5-8-7 fertilizer he has every right to expect and insist that he shall receive a 5-8-7 

 grade and not a 4-8-10 grade, even though the latter may have an equal or higher 

 commercial value. As far as plant growth is concerned, an overrun of 30 or 40 

 pounds of potash in a ton of fertilizer does not compensate for a shortage of 15 

 or 20 pounds of nitrogen. 



Deficiencies are emphasized by boldface type. 



Mixtures Substantially Complying with the Guarantee. In addition to 

 the analysis of those fertilizers which meet their guarantees in every respect, this 

 table includes also those mixtures which have one or more elements below the 

 guaranteed percentage but have a shortage of less than $1 per ton. 



Inferior Nitrogen. The presence of inferior forms of organic nitrogen is 

 indicated by footnotes. 



Potash Forms. Tests for chlorine are made only on tobacco mixtures and on 

 those fertilizers which carry a guarantee of potash in forms other than muriate 

 When the amount of chlorine present in any brand exceeds the tolerance allowed 

 for that brand, this fact is indicated by a footnote. 



