1905.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT— No. 33. 



95 



fertilizers have been collected up to the present time, in our 

 general markets by experienced assistants in the station. 

 Five hundred and twenty-five samples were analyzed at the 

 beginning of December, 1904, representing 295 distinct 

 brands of fertilizers. These analyses were published in two 

 bulletins of the Hatch Experiment Station of the Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural College : No. 100, July, and No. 102, 

 November, 1904. Other official samples not included in 

 these two bulletins will be reserved for our next publication 

 in March, 1905. By comparing the above statements with 

 those of our previous annual reports, it will be seen that 

 there is a gradual increase in the number of fertilizers that 

 are licensed in the State of Massachusetts from year to year. 

 This fact would tend to show an increased consumption of 

 these articles, and would emphasize the importance of their 

 annual inspection from a commercial agricultural standpoint. 

 Twenty-three more brands of fertilizers have been licensed 

 during the past season than in the previous year. 



The following table gives in compact form an abstract of 

 the results of analyses of official commercial fertilizers : — 



(a) Where tliree essential elements of plant food were guaranteed : 

 Number with three elements equal to or above the highest guarantee. 

 Number with two elements above the highest guarantee, 

 Number witli one element above the highest guarantee, . 

 Number with three elements between the lowest and highest guarantee 

 Number with two elements l)etween the lowest and highest guarantee 

 Number with one element between the lowest and highest guarantee, 

 Number witli three elements below the lowest guarantee. 

 Number witli two elements below the lowest guarantee, ... 

 Number with one element below the lowest guarantee, ... 



(6) Where two essential elements of plant food were guaranteed : — 

 Number with two elements above tlie higliest guarantee, 

 Numljer with one element above the highest guarantee, . 

 Numljer with two elements between the lowest and highest guarantee 

 Number with one element between the lowest and highest guarantee. 

 Number witli two elements below the lowest guarantee, . 

 Number with one element below the lowest guarantee, . 



(c) Where one essential element of plant food was guaranteed : — 



Number aliove the highest guarantee, 



Number between the lowest and highest guarantee 



Number below the lowest guarantee 



19 



91 

 207 

 118 



42 

 2 



24 

 100 



7 

 32 

 111 

 190 

 146 

 48 

 none 

 12 

 103 



From the above table it will be seen that, on the whole, 

 the quality of the fertilizers that have been licensed, collected 

 and examined during the past year is higher than in the pre- 

 vious season of 1903. 



