BULLETIN No. 143. DECEMBER, 1912. 



MASSACHUSETTS 

 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 



STATION. 



INSPECTION OF 



COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



BY 



H. D. HASKINS, L. S. WALKER, C. P. JONES and C. L. BEALS. 



This bulletin gives a detailed report of the fertilizer inspection 

 for 1912. It mentions the essential features of the fertilizer law, 

 states the number of fertilizers inspected, gives trade values of 

 fertilizer ingredients, provides a summary showing average com- 

 position of unmixed fertilizing material as well as pound cost of 

 each element of plant food furnished. Special attention is called 

 to comimercial shortages existing in both unmixed fertilizing ma- 

 terials and mixed goods. Particular emphasis is laid upon the 

 economy of purchasing only high grade fertilizers. A summary 

 table shows the general standing of each manufacturer's brands. 

 A discussion is made of the quality of plant food found present 

 in the mixed goods, particularly with reference to the activity 

 of the organic nitrogen. A summary table shows the general qual- 

 ity of nitrogen found in each manufacturer's product. Tables of 

 analyses give the detailed composition of all fertilizers and Hme 

 products sold in the state. Commercial valuations of the plant 

 food in all fertilizing materials, calculated from the table of trade 

 values, are published; and for the lime compounds, the actual 

 cost of 100 pounds of calcium and magnesium oxides is given in 

 each case. 



Requests for bulletins should be addressed to the 



Agricultural Experiment Station, 



Amherst, Mass. 



