3G 



Peruvian guano low in nitrogen, which we use as a source of our 

 phosphoric acid. For mechanical reasons, in different brands at 

 times, for the sake of getting proper bulk and to prevent caking, we 

 do use small proportions of tartar pomace and even special grades 

 of garbage tankage. We have always believed that the addition 

 of the small quantity of inactive organic ammoniate which we have 

 used, where the solubility of the total nitrogen in our brands nms 

 so ver}' high, was not at all a disadvantage; certainly not enough 

 to counteract the very positive advantage in keeping the goods in 

 first-class drilling condition. It is very difficult with fertilizers 

 such as ours, containing so high a percentage of soluble salts, to 

 avoid some caking under difterent conditions of moisture, and 

 these organic ammoniates are very valuable in preventing such 

 caking." It may be said in this connection that the greater part 

 of the nitrogen in this company's goods is actually present as ni- 

 trates and ammoniates, and in the majority of cases the total ni- 

 trogen shows a considerable margin or oveiTun. There are, how- 

 ever, six cases out of the eighteen which do not show a sufficient ex- 

 cess of nitrogen over the minimimi guarantee to warrant the state- 

 ment that the low grade ammoniate was used solely as a condition- 

 er. In other words, the stun of nitrogen contained in the low grade 

 ammoniate and the nitrogen found in the more available forms, 

 barely eqvials the minimimi guarantee. This, of course, may be 

 accidental. It is believed that the manufacturers are sincere in 

 their statement. 



Olds &° Whipple say: "We cannot understand why the activity 

 of the organic nitrogen (in the fish and potash) is not a higher per- 

 centage than reported. We howe\-er this coming season will see if 

 it is not possible to change the material to make the percentage of 

 active nitrogen run somewhat higher and yet not injure the ferti- 

 lizer as to its results on the crops." 



Ross Bros. Company state that in the Lawn and Garden brand 

 the organic nitrogen was derived wholl}^ from bone, sheep manure 

 and tobacco dust. That the Potato and Vegetable brand was 

 manufactured for them by another company outside of the state. 

 It is quite probable that the nitrogen from pulverized sheep manure 

 and tobacco dust would not show as active as from the high grade 

 animal ammoniates, and quite likely their use accounts for the low 

 activit}^ shoAATi. 



Swift's Lowell Fertilizer Company state that no organic matter 

 was used in the Lawn Dressing brand this past season ; that it was 

 made entirely from chemicals using either nitrate of soda or sulfate 

 of ammonia for the nitrogen content. The case is not a serious 

 one as the greater part of the nitrogen present was from nitrates 

 and ammoniates. 



