Inspection of Commercial Fertilizers 



This bulletin is a report of the results obtained in the 

 annual inspection of commercial fertilizers made by the 

 State Department of Agriculture under the direction of the 

 Honorable Andrew L. Felker, Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture. The State Inspector, Mr. Eugene D. Sanborn, vis- 

 ited practically every section of the state and collected 

 samples of 97 brands. 



The relatively smaller number of low grade fertilizers 

 found this year shows a decided improvement over that of 

 last year. In 1921 out of a total of 104 samples 35, or over 

 33 per cent., of the brands contained less than a total of 14 

 pounds of plant food per 100 pounds, while in 1922 only 

 23 brands out of 97, or approximately 24 per cent., con- 

 tained less than 14 pounds of plant food per 100 pounds of 

 fertilizer. There is still a chance for a decided improve- 

 ment in this regard. For instance in the 1-8-2 fertilizers 

 the cost of nitrogen per pound was over four times as great 

 as in the 5-8-7 brands. Because it costs just as much to 

 mix, bag and ship a ton of low grade as it does a ton of high 

 analysis fertilizer, the total cost per pound of plant food is 

 much cheaper in the high analysis goods. Ask for high 

 analysis fertilizer. Do you consider the actual plant food 

 value of the fertilizer when you buy? The object of the 

 folloiving discussion is to aid you in purchasing fertilizers. 

 READ IT! USE IT WHEN YOU BUY FERTILIZERS! 

 The following discussion of the meaning of the analysis 

 and the methods of calculating relative values are given to 

 aid you in purchasing fertilizers. If you need further help 

 write to the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, the 

 New Hampshire State College Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, Durham, N. H. 



