37 



So far as one is able to judge from the analytical data and the 

 explanations furnished, the following facts may be deduced : 



1 . Some manufacturers used nitrogen-containing material of a 

 low availability. 



2. In some cases it was used as a direct source of nitrogen to 

 bring the fertilizer up to its minimum guarantee. In other cases 

 it was used to raise the guarantee above the minimum. In still 

 other cases it was employed as a filler or to improve the mechanical 

 condition of the fertilizer. 



3. It is possible that the inactive materials employed were not 

 sufficiently treated to render their nitrogen available. 



It is hoped that manufacturers will endeavor to improve condi- 

 tions another season for it is believed that the consumer of com- 

 mercial fertilizers — at least of the better grades — is entitled to re- 

 ceive all of his nitrogen in such an available form as is called for by 

 the 50 percent alkaline permanganate standard. 



Character of the Phosphoric Acid Used. 



Many of the fertilizer mixtures contained large overruns in to- 

 tal phosphoric acid while the available phosphoric acid on the same 

 brands has shown a considerable shortage. This may have been 

 due to incomplete acidulation of the bone or raw mineral phosphate 

 used or to the addition of considerable unacidulated rock phosphate, 

 bone, or roasted iron or alumina phosphate. Of the total phos- 

 phoric acid found in all of the brands analyzed, 84 percent was 

 present in available forms. In case of the available phosphoric 

 acid found, 58 percent was present in water soluble form. 



Character of the Potash Used 



As in previous years, the form in which the potash was pres- 

 ent has been noted in every fertilizer analyzed. Footnotes in the 

 tables of analysis will indicate when the potash is in form of sulfate 

 or carbonate. The absence of the asterisk (*) or dagger (f) fol- 

 lowing the potash percentage is an indication that it was present as 

 chloride. Very few cases have been foimd showing the absence 

 of chlorides in those brands where sulfate is guaranteed. In the 

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

 has been so small as to be counted as incidental. A quantitative 

 test, however, has in all cases been made and will be found in the 

 footnote. In case of some of the tobacco brands, quite a consider- 

 able quantity of chlorine has been found where carbonate of potash 

 was guaranteed. This would indicate the use of carbonate of pot- 

 ash from the beet sugar industry. The latter material frequently 

 contains as high as 10 to 12% muriate of potash. 



