23 



One sample put out by the Sanderson Fertilizer and Chemical 

 Company was found seriously deficient in potash, containing only 

 23.72% when 26% was guaranteed. A further study revealed the 

 presence of 31.61% of sand. A test for magnesia showed only 

 4.82% whereas a bona fide sample of potash-magnesia sulfate 

 should contain between 13 and 14 per cent magnesium oxide. 

 These results indicated that high grade sulfate of potash had been 

 reduced by the addition of sand and kieserit and sold as potash- 

 magnesia sulfate. Mr. Sanderson states concerning the matter 

 that the potash salt was bought by the compan}^ as sulfate of pot- 

 ash-magnesia and sold in original packages to their customers; 

 that if any adulteration took place it was before the material was 

 shipped to this country; that the potash salt was purchased 

 through the International Agricultural Corporation, but their con- 

 tract with these people has become cancelled by action of the Ger- 

 man Government; that very little of the material has been sold 

 unmixed and never as double sulfate of potash, the guarantee be- 

 ing simply Sulfate of Potash; and that the rebate due for the de- 

 ficiency of potash will be made to customers who purchased the 

 material. 



Two other cases of a similar character have been detected, the 

 material having been shipped through Olds & Whipple of Hartford, 

 Conn. These cases, however, did not show a shortage in potash, 

 a considerable overrun being recorded in each case. They showed 

 30.33% and 25.32% of sand respectively, the magnesia being 

 about one-half as much as is usually found in the ordinary potash- 

 magnesia salt. The Olds & Whipple Company claim that the ma- 

 terial was sold by them in original bags as received from Germany, 

 that the material was purchased as bona fide potash-magnesia sul- 

 fate and in proof of this sent their original contract with the Ger- 

 man Kali Works. The matter was then taken up with the Ger- 

 man Kali Works who made a complete investigation and reported 

 that one of the mines in Germany had been detected in reducing 

 high grade sulfate of potash with sand and kieserit and shipping 

 the same as sulfate of potash-magnesia whenever heavy orders for 

 this salt came in that could not be readily filled with the bona fide 

 double manure salt. A further statement was made that the Ger- 

 man Kali Works did not favor the practice and shipments of this 

 material when discovered had been returned and the mine had 

 been heavily fined for the practice. The German Kali Works 

 have offered to compensate the buyers by allowing them the value 

 of the deficient magnesia less the value of the overrun in potash. 

 Eighteen samples of muriate of potash have been 

 Muriate of examined and three were found deficient in pot- 

 Potash, ash. The pound of actual potash as muriate or 

 chloride has cost on the average 4.43 cents. Two 



