INSPECTION OP FERTILIZERS FOR 1912. 



The samples of fertilizers for the 1912 inspection were 

 collected by Mr. H. B. Tuttle, under the direction of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, and turned over to the State 

 Agricultural Experiment Station for analysis. Aside 

 from duplicates one hundred and eighty samples were 

 drawn; of these, eighteen represent raw fertilizer mate- 

 rials and include muriate and sulfate of potash, acid 

 phosphate, basic slag meal, ground bone, blood and 

 nitrate of soda. This is the largest number of samples 

 ever drawn in the state in one year. 



The inspector could not locate all of the brands which 

 had been licensed. However, the ones not found were not 

 generally in use. 



The samples drawn and herein reported represent 

 practically all grades of prepared fertilizers from the best 

 that are made down to some of the poorest. Also, ex- 

 cepting tankage and sulfate of ammonia, the raw unmixed 

 materials are well represented. Judging from the dis- 

 tribution of the various mixed fertilizers and raw mate- 

 rials, the consumer has had a considerable latitude in the 

 choice of quality. 



The cost of fertilizers is a very important factor in pres- 

 ent agricultural processes. The consumer is still buying 

 "shot-gun charges" of fertilizers for his crops. Nearly 

 all of the prepared fertilizers, regardless of the soils or 

 crops for which they are to be used, contain nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid, and potash in large or small amounts. 

 The consumer is in need of more information concerning 

 the value of the various fertilizer constituents for his 

 specific needs. More definite inf©rmation might enable 

 him to eliminate some of these constituents for certain 



