a chemical analysis. To insure that they are being furnished by all manu- 

 facturers in the guaranteed amounts, it is considered necessary that each 

 brand of fertilizer offered for sale be officially inspected and analyzed one 

 or more times each year. When failure to meet the guarantee is proved by 

 chemical analysis, the prosecution or seizure provisions of the law may be 

 invoked. The purchaser's refusal to buy a fertilizer which does not con- 

 form to the law in every respect will not only assist in the enforcement of 

 the law but will at the same time insure himself the protection of the law. 

 If the buyer fails to assure himself the legal requirements have been met, 

 he accepts the fertilizer at his own risk. 



All samples reported in this bulletin were drawn by an inspector ap- 

 pointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The chemical analyses were 

 made by the methods of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 



Conformity to Guarantee 



Forty-nine of the 67 brands analyzed equaled or exceeded the manufac- 

 turer's guarantee. No brand failed to meet the guarantee in all of the 

 three constituents, total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and water- 

 soluble potash. Nine brands were below guarantee in two of the three 

 constituents, two in nitrogen and available phosphoric acid, five in nitro- 

 gen and potash, and two in phosphoric acid and potash. Nine brands failed 

 to meet the guarantee in only one constituent. 



Including all the brands referred to above, 11 brands were found to 

 contain less than the guaranteed amount of nitrogen. The greatest defi- 

 ciency was 0.32 per cent. The average of the other 10 deficiencies was 

 0.21 per cent, Six brands failed to meet the guarantee in available phos- 

 phoric acid. One brand was deficient 0.97 per cent. The average of the 

 other five deficiencies was 0.31 per cent. Ten brands contained less potash 

 than was guaranteed. The greatest deficiency was 1.55 per cent. The 

 average of the other nine deficiencies was 0.43 per cent. 



Three brands were guaranteed to contain magnesium oxide. All ex- 

 ceeded the guarantee. 



In the tabulation of the analyses in the following pages deficiencies of 

 one-fourth of one per cent or more are shown in bold-face type. The man- 

 ufacturers are arranged alphabetically. The brand name is listed alpha- 

 betically or numerically by formula under the manufacturer. 



