19 



3. That 106 brands were deficient in one element. 



4. That 30 brands were deficient in two elements. 



5. That 2 brands were deficient in all three elements. In 

 this connection it might be added that 80 brands were found 

 deficient in nitrogen, 63 in potash and 28 in phosphoric acid. 



6. That 45 out of the 296 brands analyzed (over 15 per cent 

 of the total number) showed a commercial shortage. The term 

 "commercial shortage" meaning that the brands in question 

 did not show the amount and value of the plant food guaranteed, 

 although the excess of any element of plant food was figured 

 in full value to offset the deficiencies. 



7. That certain manufacturers are either extremely careless 

 in mixing or else they do not allow a suflP.cient margin for varia- 

 tion in the composition of crude stock; in other words they try 

 to have their goods run too close to the minimum guarantee. 



The season of 1909 shows the largest number of 

 Concerning deficiencies and commercial shortages which has 

 Commercial probably ever occurred in this state. The largest 

 Shortages, number of commercial shortages is below $1.00 

 in value per ton and yet many of the deficiencies 

 are very serious, in many cases running one percent or over 

 below the minimum guarantee. The following table has been 

 prepared to show the commercial shortages in the mixed ferti- 

 lizers for the season of 1909, also to furnish a comparison with 

 the previous year. 



It might be said, perhaps with some degree of truth, that the 

 above method of figuring commercial shortages by allowing 

 the value of an excess of some element of plant food to balance 



