DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND ANIMAL CHEMISTRY. 



J. B. LiNDSEY, Cheviist. 



INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



FOR THE SEASON OF 1910. 



By H. D. Haskins, Chemist in Charge. 



Assisted by 



L. S. Walker and J. F. Merrill. 



The Massachusetts fertilizer law requires that all 



Abstracts of fertilizers or fertilizer materials sold, offered or 



fertilizer exposed for sale within the Commonwealth shall 



Law. (1) be properly branded; (2) contain the name and 



address of the manufacturer including location 



of factory; (3) bear a statement of the number of net pounds of 



fertilizer contained in each package; (4) and a chemical analysis 



stating — 



(a) The guaranteed percentage of nitrogen, 



{h) The guaranteed percentage of potash soluble in distilled 



water, 

 (c) The guaranteed percentage of phosphoric acid, soluble in 

 water, reverted, as well as the available and total phos- 

 phoric acid. 

 The law also requires that before any fertilizer is sold, offered or 

 exposed for sale, a certified copy of the above be filed with the 

 director of this station. Furthermore, it is a misdemeanor to 

 guarantee a larger percentage of any one or more of the fertilizer 

 elements mentioned than is actuall}'- contained in the fertilizer; 

 or to sell, offer or expose for sale any pulverized leather, hair or 

 wool waste, — raw, steamed or roasted — as a fertilizer or as an 

 ingredient of any fertilizer without the fact being stated in a 

 conspicuous manner on every package, parcel or lot of the same. 

 In all cases where a fertilizer or fertilizer material does not 

 contain soluble and available nitrogen, phosphoric acid and pot- 

 ash, but consists of other and cheaper materials, a printed label 

 shall accompany every package of such fertilizer and shall gi\-c 

 a correct general statement of the composition and ingredients 

 of said fertilizer. (This refers in particular to ground rocks and 

 lava). Offenders against any of the above regulations are sul)- 

 ject to prosecution. 



