1908.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



85 



at centers of distribution in New England, New York and New 

 Jersey. 



The average comparative commercial value of the 275 brands 

 of complete fertilizer analyzed was $24.19, the average retail 

 cash price $35.40 and the percentage of difference 44.85. 



Of the 275 brands, 113, or about 41 per cent., failed to meet 

 the manufacturers' guaranty in some one or more of the essen- 

 tial elements ; many of these deficiencies were made up by an 

 excess of some one or more of the other essential ingredients. 

 Twenty -one of the samples of complete fertilizers, however, 

 showed a commercial shortage ranging from 79 cents to $13.50 

 per ton. 



Eighty-six brands were deficient in one, 23 in two and 4 in 

 all three of the essential elements of plant food. Seventy were 

 deficient in nitrogen, 43 in potash and 28 in phosphoric acid. 



Among the 38 brands of ground bone, tankage and dry ground 

 fish, 16 failed to meet the guaranty in nitrogen and 4 in phos- 

 phoric acid ; only a few of these brands, however, show a com- 

 mercial shortage. The average retail cash prices, valuations 

 and percentages of difference of the ground bones, dissolved 

 bones, tankages and dry ground fish were as follows : — 



1 Valuation in excess of selling price. 



In case of chemicals and other raw materials, it may be said 

 that 2 samples of nitrate of soda, one sample of dried blood and 

 5 samples of cotton-seed meal failed to meet the nitrogen 

 guaranty. Two samples of muriate of potash and one sample 

 of carbonate of potash did not meet the potash guaranty. One 

 sample of superphosphate, 1 sample of dissolved bone black and 

 2 samples of dissolved phosphates and potash fell below the 

 phosphoric acid guaranty. 



