1898.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 107 



the Massachusetts Agricultural College in the class of 1892, 

 who since his graduation has been an efficient assistant in 

 the chemical laboratory of the experiment station for the 

 examination of commercial fertilizers. 



Four hundred and fifteen samples of fertilizer have thus 

 far been collected during the present year ; of these, three 

 hundred and one samples, representing two hundred and 

 twenty-three distinct brands, were analyzed by the close of 

 the month of November, and the results published in July 

 and November bulletins, Nos. 48 and 49, of the Hatch Ex- 

 periment Station of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 

 The remaining samples, in common with others coming 

 under our observation before the ex})iration of the licenses, 

 will 1)6 anal3'zed in due time, and the results published in 

 conformity with our laws for the regulation of the trade in 

 commercial fertilizers. 



The results of the inspection during the past season are, 

 on the whole, quite satisfactory, and if anything are an im- 

 provement on the results of the preceding year. The ben- 

 eficial results of improved machinery and of improved skill 

 in the management of the manufacture of fertilizers show 

 themselves in a marked degree when compared with the gen- 

 eral character of commercial fertilizers in earlier periods of 

 the business. 



To render the actual conditions of the trade in commercial 

 fertilizers during the past season more prominent, a sum- 

 mary of our results is here inserted. In reading the subse- 

 quent statement, it has to be remembered that only the 

 lowest stated guarantee is legally binding in all sales : — 



(a) Where three essential elements of plant food were guar- 

 anteed : — 

 Number with three elements equal to or above the highest guaran- 

 tee, 3 



Number with two elements above the highest guarantee, . . 2 

 Number with one element above the highest guarantee, . . .60 

 Number with three elements between the lowest and highest guar- 

 antee, 69 



Number with two elements between the lowest and highest guaran- 

 tees, 63 



Number with one element between the lowest and highest guaran- 

 tees, 16 



