62 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



or roasted iron or alumina phosphate. Of the total phosphoric 

 acid found in all of the brands analyzed, 84 [)er cent, was 

 present in available forms. In case of the availal)le phosphoric 

 acid found, 58 per cent, was present in water soluble form. 



(8) Potash. — As in i)rcvious years, the form in which the 

 potash was present has been noted in every fertilizer analyzed. 

 Very few cases have been found showing the absence of chlo- 

 rides in those brands where sulfate is guaranteed. In the ma- 

 jority of cases, however, the amount of chlorine found present 

 has been so small as to be counted as incideiital. A quantita- 

 tive test, however, has in all cases been made. In case of some 

 of the tobacco brands, quite a considerable quantity of chlorine 

 has been found where carbonate of potash was guaranteed. 

 This would indicate the use of carbonate of potash from the beet 

 sugar industry. The latter material frequently contains as high 

 as 10 to 12 per cent, muriate of potash. It is reasonable to 

 suppose that if the consumer pays for carbonate of potash he 

 expects that the fertilizer will exclude both soluble chlorides 

 and sulfates. 



{%) Miscellaneous Fertilizers, By-jiroducts and Soils for Free 



Anal If sis. 

 Including the materials which have been tested for the vari- 

 ous dei)artments of the experiment station, there have been re- 

 ceived and analyzed 339 diflerent substances. They may be 

 grouped as follows: 209 fertilizers and by-products used as fer- 

 tilizers, 63 soils, 36 lime compounds, 27 ash analyses of plants 

 and 4 miscellaneous products. Whenever possible, the fertilizer 

 and lime samples have been taken by one of our regular inspec- 

 tors and by means of the regulation sam]ding tube. In all other 

 cases the samples have been taken according to printcnl instruc- 

 tions furnished from this office. In reporting results, informa- 

 tion has been furnished as to the best manner of using the 

 material, and in case of soils the rational treatment of the same 

 as regards fertilizers, cultivation and crop rotation. The analy- 

 ses of most of the lime products appear in Lime Bulletin, No. 

 137. The analyses of home-mixed fertilizers and private for- 

 mulas collected by our inspectors will appear in a table by them- 

 selves in lli(» fertilizer bulletin. The other analyses mentioned 

 will not be i>ublished. 



