DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND ANIMAL CHEMISTRY. 



J. B. LiNDSEY, Chemist. 



INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



FOR THE SEASON OF 1911. 



By H. D. Haskins, Chemist in Charge. 



Assisted by 



L. S. Walker, J. F. Merrill* and R. W. RuPRECHT.f 



The fertilizer inspection work for the year has been carried on 

 under the old fertilizer law as amended in 1907 (Chapter 289.) 

 December 1, 1911, a new fertiHzer law went into effect, the full 

 text of which is herewith given. 



AN ACT TO REGULATE THE SALE OF COMMERCIAL 



FERTILIZERS. (Chapter 388, 1911.) 

 Be it enacted, etc., as follows : 



Section 1. No commercial fertilizer shall 

 Statements to be be sold or offered or exposed for sale in this 

 printed on label commonwealth without a plainly printed 

 accompanying the label accompanying it, displayed in the man- 

 fertilizer, ner hereinafter set forth, and truly stating 

 the following particulars : — 



1. The niimber of pounds of the fertilizer sold or offered or 

 exposed for sale. 



2. The name, brand or trademark under which the fertilizer 

 is sold, and, in the case of agricultural lime, its particular form. 



3. The name and principal address of the manufacturer, im- 

 porter or other person putting the fertilizer on the market in this 

 commonwealth . 



4. The minimimi percentage of each of the following constit- 

 uents which the fertilizer may contain : (a) nitrogen, (b) phosphoric 

 acid soluble in distilled water, (c) available phosphoric acid, (d) 

 total phosphoric acid, (e) potash soluble in distilled water; except 

 that in the case of undissolved bone, untreated phosphate rock, 

 tankage, pulverized natural manures, the ground seeds of plants, 

 and wood ashes, when sold unmixed with other substances, the 

 minimum percentage of total phosphoric acid therein may be stated 

 in place of the percentages of soluble and available phosphoric acid ; 

 and except that in the case of agricultural lime the label shall truly 



♦Resigned December 1, 1911. 



tMr. James C. Reed assisted in the work for three months, beginning September 1st. 

 Note: The writer wishes to acknowledge valuable suggestions and criticisms offered by 

 Dr. J. B. Lindsey relative to the subject matter of this bulletin. 



