agricultural experiment stations and industrial research groups are constantly 

 studying the needs of the soil to improve crop yields. As a result of these studies, 

 other plant nutrients are included in certain fertilizers for specific crops. Mag- 

 nesium and boron are examples of so-called minor elements furnished by some 

 brands of fertilizer to correct specific deficiencies of the soil in certain localities. 



Soil conditionei-s are materials that have been widely advertised. Their 

 main purpose is to improve soil texture. In general these materials in themselves 

 supply little or no plant food. They are relatively expensive and their use has 

 therefore been limited. There is no accepted method of measuring their relative 

 effectiveness as to whether results as claimed will be obtained. These materials 

 are still in the trial period. They apparently give good results in changing 

 certain soil conditions. 



It is well known that there is much advertising of fertilizer materials di- 

 rected to the attention of the small home gardener and house plant growers. It is 

 realized that plant food concentrate supplied in small packages has a place. 

 However, certain advertising claims have been open to question. In fact the 

 American Association of Fertilizer Control Officials has in the past issued a warn- 

 ing to the public through the press against "exorbitant and questionable claims" 

 in regard to fertilizer materials for home garden and flower production. Gen- 

 erally speaking, it is more economical for the gardener to purchase fertilizer of 

 a reliable brand and in reasonably large size packages. 



All control officials charged with the enforcement of state laws regulating 

 the sale of commercial fertilizers and fertilizer materials are joined in the Asso- 

 ciation of American Fertilizer Control Officials. Research workers employed by 

 State or Federal Agencies engaged in the investigation of fertilizers are also 

 members of this Association. The object of this organization is to "promote 

 uniform and effective legislation, definitions, rulings, and enforcement of laws 

 relating to the control of sale and distribution of mixed fertilizers and fertilizer 

 materials in the Continent of North America." At the annual meetings of the 

 Association reports and recommendations of investigators concerning definitions 

 of fertilizer materials, use of new products, and problems concerning regulation 

 of the fertilizer trade are discussed in detail. Fertilizer manufacturers are 

 invited to participate in these discussions and through mutual co-operation the 

 farmer is supplied with a product that can be relied upon to do the job expected 

 in crop production. The official publication of the Association may be obtained 

 for a small fee through the office of its secretary, B. D. Cloaninger, Clemson, 

 South Carolina. This booklet contains the official terms describing fertilizer 

 materials, a proposed model state fertilizer law as well as the proceedings of the 

 annual meeting. 



Whether or not a fertilizer contains the guaranteed amount of plant food 

 can be determined only by a chemical analysis. For this reason it is considered 

 necessary that each brand of fertilizer offered for sale be officially sampled and 

 analyzed each year. When failure to meet the gaurantee is proved by chemical 

 analysis, the prosecution or seizure provisions of the law may be invoked. The 

 purchaser's refusal to buy a fertilizer which does not conform to the law will 

 not only assist in the enforcement of the law but will at the same time insure him 

 the protection of the law. 



USE OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



It is not within the scope of this department to make recommendations re- 

 garding the use of commercial fertilizers. The Department of Agronomy and 

 the Department of Agricultural and Biological Chemistry of the University of 

 New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station test soils and conduct experi- 

 mental work with various fertilizer materials on hay and crop land. The Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture investigates fertilizer treatments for fruits and vegetables. 

 Much of this work has been published, and is available for free distribution to 

 residents of New Hampshire. Address your request to Mail Service, University 



