Deficient in nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash 2 



(1 subject to penalty in potash) 

 Deficient in magnesium oxide 1 



Fifty samples were guaranteed to contain magnesium oxide. Of these nineteen guar- 

 anteed in terms of water soluble magnesium oxide. All magnesium oxide guarantees were 

 met with one exception. 



Penalties were assessed on 38 different lots of fertilizers representing 14 grades. 

 Four grades, 0-15-30, 8-16-16, 5-10-10-2 and 5-10-10-5 were involved in 23 of the lots 

 penalized. The others were scattering, one or two only in a particular grade. The penalty 

 clause was invoked in fifteen cases for nitrogen, fifteen cases for phosphoric acid and ten 

 cases for potash shortages. These cases are noted in the table of analyses by bold type 

 and by underline. The manufacturers are listed alphabetically and the brand names by 

 formula and alphabetically under the name of the manufacturer. 



There are far too many small deficiencies as shown by the fact that only 88 out 

 of 178 samples met all guarantees. This problem is of serious concern and considerable 

 cooperative work is underway to solve the problem. Fertilizers are largely mixtures of 

 chemicals. Segregation of these materials in the bag is difficult to prevent. Modern 

 methods of fertilizer manufacture are doing much to process the fertilizer in such a 

 way that segregation will be avoided. The solution of this problem is difficult. To obtain 

 a truly representative sample of a fertilizer mixture requires careful work. The chemist 

 can accurately determine the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash content of the sample 

 sent to the laboratory. If this sample does not correctly represent the larger lot, the 

 analytical work is of no use. The obligation of the fertilizer control program is to see 

 that the manufacturer is supplying the guaranteed amount of plant food to the con- 

 sumer. For this reason, the sample must be drawn and analyzed very carefully so that 

 injustice will not be done to either the consumer or manufacturer. 



COMMERCIAL VALUE OF FERTILIZERS 



Section 10. of the New Hampshire Fertilizer Law of 1955, states, "For the purpose 

 of determining the commercial values to be applied under the provisions of Section 7., 

 the Commissioner shall determine and publish annually, the values per pound of nitro- 

 gen, phosphoric acid and potash in commercial fertilizers in this State. The values so 

 determined and published shall be used in determining and assessing penalties." 



After consulting the fertilizer manufacturers selling the major tonnage of fertilizer 

 in New Hampshire, the Commissioner established and the Agricultural Advisory Board 

 approved on June 9, 1958, the following commercial values per pound of nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid and potash: 



$3.00 per Unit or 15 cents per pound of Nitrogen* 

 $2.00 per Unit or 10 cents per pound of Phosphoric Acid* 

 $1.20 per Unit or 6 cents per pound of Potash* 

 $1.25 per Unit or 6 cents per pound of Magnesium Oxide — 



(1/4 of 1% Tolerance) 

 *see page 2 or a copy of the law for tolerances 



June 17, 1958 



The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture 



Concord, New Hampshire 



