18a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



carrying on are closely connected with the work. On the other 

 hand, the benefit to the individual is so great that it seems 

 evident, since in the nature of things the test cannot within any 

 one season be applied in all the flocks of the State, that the 

 individual should bear a part of the cost. Applications for this 

 work are attended to in the order in which they are received. 

 It is more fully discussed and reported upon in the report of the 

 head of the veterinary department, which will be found in later 

 pages. 



CONTROL WORK. 



The control work with which the station is charged, viz., the 

 administration of the fertilizer law, the feed law and the so- 

 called dairy law, has been carried on as usual. The results are 

 somewhat fully presented in the report of Dr. Lindsey, the head 

 of the department of chemistry, which will be found in the fol- 

 lowing pages. 



Work under the Fertilizer Law. — The somewhat abnormal 

 conditions affecting the trade in commercial fertilizers, due pri- 

 marily to the European war, have continued throughout the 

 year. Potash salts and European basic slag meal are, practi- 

 cally speaking, out of the market, and prices for all materials 

 have been and continue to be excessively high. Many brands 

 of fertilizers ordinarily containing considerable water-soluble 

 potash are now offered without any of this element, and this 

 must apparently continue to be the case as long as the Euro- 

 pean, war continues. There has been a slight increase in the 

 number of brands found in our markets during the past year. 

 The number, however, is not equal to the number before the 

 war. On the other hand, the number of samples collected and 

 analyzed is greater than ever before. There has, how^ever, been 

 a material falling off in the amount received for analysis fees on 

 account of the fact that so large a number of fertilizers do not 

 contain potash. Brands which formerly paid S24 ($8 for each 

 plant-food element) now in many cases pay only §16. This 

 situation causes considerable embarrassment, as it is feared that 

 if the conditions existing at present continue, the amount re- 

 ceived for analysis fees will not be sufficient to cover the cost of 

 a satisfactory inspection. While conditions in general cannot 



