State Services 



Inspection of Fertilizers and Feedingstuffs 



During the 1953-54 fiscal year 123 samples of fertilizers and fertilizer 

 materials and 707 samples of feedingstufifs were analyzed, in accordance 

 with state laws regulating the sale of these materials. 



Of the 123 samples of fertilizers analyzed, 52 equalled or exceeded 

 the guarantees in all respects. In general, the deficiencies found were small, 

 and manufacturers on the whole did a good job in providing a satisfactory 

 product for the farmers' use. Detailed results of the analyses of these sam- 

 ples are published in Bulletin 405 of the New Hampshire Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. 



Of the 707 samples of feedingstuffs analyzed, 667 were ingredients 

 and mixed feeds, and 40 were canned cat and/or dog foods. These samples 

 represented the products of 165 manufacturers. Forty-three brands were 

 sampled two or more times during the year. There were fewer deficiencies 

 found this year than in the past several years and they were generally small. 

 Eight and eight tenths percent of the samples were deficient in protein, 5.2 

 percent were deficient in fat, and 3.8 percent contained excess crude fiber. 

 Detailed results of the tests were published in Bulletin 412 of the New 

 Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. 



As a measure of accuracy and effectiveness of the techniques and 

 methods used in the laboratory, two series of check samples were analyzed 

 during the year ; one series of 1 5 samples was supplied by the American 

 Oil Chemists and other 6 samples by the Association of Feed Control Offic- 

 ials. Approximately 100 Experiment Station and industrial laboratories 

 participated in these tests to insure that their w^ork was up to standard. 



Collaborative work in the development and improvement of methods 

 for the determination of nitrogen, as a part of the program of the Associa- 

 tion of Official Agricultural Chemists, has been continued. 



Inquiries received from residents of the state concerning the analyses 

 of silages, feeds, and fertilizers have been answered as received, including 

 11 which required analytical work. 



H. A. Davis 



Seed Inspection, 1953-1954 



Seed inspection work for the New Hampshire State Department of 

 Agriculture has been conducted for the last 45 years. During the past year, 

 696 official seed samples were collected by the State Inspectors throughout 

 the State and results of the tests will be reported in Station Bulletin 415- 

 In addition, 1229 private samples were sent in by seed dealers and farmers, 

 making a total of 1925 samples handled by our laboratory. 



This past year, 25 samples of seed were sent to 60 official laboratories 

 in the United States and Canada in a program of rating laboratories, and 12 

 regional referee samples were received. Our laboratory took part in all of 

 this work. 



Bessie G. Sanborn 



Soil Testing, 1953-1954 



During the last fiscal year, residents of the state have submitted 6,358 

 soil samples for analysis of pH values and available nutrients. This work 



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