(c) The plant food content of each and every brand of commercial fertilizer must re- 

 main uniform for the period of registration." 



"Section ^39:5 LABELING, (a) Any commercial fertilizer offered for sale or sold or 

 distributed in this state in bags, barrels, or other containers shall have placed on or af- 

 fixed to the container in written or printed form the net weight and the information re- 

 quired, (l), (2), ajid (3) of paragraph (a) of section h either (l) on tags affixed to the 

 end of the package between the ears and/or on the sewed end or (2) directly on the package. 

 (b) If distributed in bulk, a written or printed statement of the weight and the informa- 

 tion required by (l), (2) and (3) of paragraph (a) of section h, shall accompany delivery 

 and be supplied to the purchaser." 



Penalty provisions - The Law provides for the levying of a penalty amounting to three 

 times the commercial value of the constituent found deficient when deficiencies exceeding 

 allowed tolerances are foimd. The foUowing table of tolerances as adopted by the State 

 Department of Agricultxire is quoted from the Rules and Regulations of that Department. 



Available 

 Total Nitrogen Phosphoric Acid 



Guarantee Deficiency Guarantee Deficiency 



0-10^ inc. O.itO 

 10-25^ inc. 0.50 

 Over 2% O.75 



The chief purpose of the official inspection of fertilizers is to protect the consumer 

 against misbranded products that probably would soon appear on the market if the sale of 

 fertilizer was not under state regulation. If the consumer accepts fertilizer not labeled 

 in compliance with the law, he does so at his own risk . He should acquaint himself with 

 the requirements of the law concerning labeling and be familiar with the terms and symbols 

 used on the label. 



A commercial fertilizer generally supplies one or more of three elements : nitrogen, 

 phosphorus and potassium; which are commonly required In relatively large amounts for plant 

 growth. The percentage of each of these three materials is represented by numerals in desig- 

 nating the grade of a fertilizer. These percentages are presently expressed in terms of 

 nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide and potash and the symbols used are N, PpOc and K^O respec- 

 tively. The term phosphoric acid is commonly used when referring to the phosphorus content. 



Under certain conditions, other elements such as magnesium, boron and other so-called 

 minor elements are needed to correct soil deficiencies in certain localities. These may be 

 included in the mixed fertilizer. 



Much advertising of fertilizer materials packed in small packages is directed to the 

 attention of the home gardener and growers of house plants. This small package serves a 

 definite need, however the "miracle" results claimed may not always be obtained. In 

 general, it is more economicaj. for the gardener to purchase fertilizer of a reliable brand 

 and in reasonably large packages . 



All control officials charged with the enforcement of state laws regxilating the sale 

 of commerciaJL fertilizers and fertilizer materials are joined In the Association of Ameri- 

 can Fertilizer Control Officials. Research workers employed by State or Federal Agencies 

 engaged in the investigation of fertilizers are also members of this Association. The ob- 

 ject of this organization is "to promote uniform and effective legislation, definitions, 

 rulings, and enforcement of laws relating to the control of sale and distribution of mixed 

 fertilizers and fertilizer materials in the Continent of North America." At the annual meet- 

 ings of the Association, reports and recommendations of investigators concerning definitions 

 of fertilizer materials, use of new products, and problems concerning regulation of the 

 fertilizer trade eure discussed in detail. Fertilizer manufacturers are Invited to partici- 

 pate in these discussions; and through mutual cooperation, the farmer is supplied with a 

 product that can be relied upon to do the job expected in crop production. The official 

 publication of the Association may be obtained for a small fee through the office of its 

 secretary, B. D. Cloaninger, Clemson, SoLith Carolina. This booklet contains the official 

 terms describing fertilizer materials, a proposed model state fertilizer law, as well as the 

 proceedings of the annual meeting . 



Whether or not a fertilizer contains the guaranteed amount of plant food can be deter- 

 mined only by a chemical analysis. For this reason, it is considered necessary that each 

 brand of fertilizer offered for sale be officially sampled and analyzed each year. When 

 failure to meet the guarantee is proved by chemical analysis, the prosecution or seizure 

 provisions of the law may be invoked. The purchaser's refusal to buy a fertilizer which 

 does not conform to the law will not only assist in the enforcement of the law, but will at 

 the same time insxjre him the protection of the law. 



In addition to the above provision is made for tolerance to be set and a penalty sched- 

 ule drawn up for any guarantee claimed after evaluation of the situation by the Commissioner 

 and proper notice given by his office. 



