Dec, 1927] fertilizer inspection, 1927 7 



brands were guaranteed to contain nitrogen in amounts 

 varying from 0.82 per cent to 16 per cent. Twenty-five 

 of these failed to meet the guarantee in full. Six were 

 below the guarantee by less than one-tenth per cent. 

 Thirteen were below by more than one-tenth per cent but 

 less than two-tenths per cent. Three were below by more 

 than two-tenths per cent but less than three tentlis per 

 cent. Two were below by more than three-tenths per 

 cent but less than four-tenths per cent. One failed to meet 

 the guarantee by eigthy-four hundredths per cent. Since 

 nitrogen is the most costly constituent of mixed fertilizers, 

 any deficiency in this element considerably decreases the 

 commerical value. The six brands of nitrate of soda an- 

 alyzed this year averaged to contain 15.25 per cent nitro- 

 gen and were sold at an average price of $69-75 per ton. 

 The commercial value of the amount of nitrogen repre- 

 sented by the greatest deficiency above was therefore 

 nearly four dollars per ton. 



PHOSPHORIC ACID DEFICIENCIES 



Five brands of sixteen per cent acid phosphate were 

 analyzed and found to meet the guarantee. One hundred 

 and twelve other brands were guaranteed to contain phos- 

 phoric acid. Thirty-four of these were deficient in total 

 phosphoric acid and twenty-five in available phosphoric 

 acid. Thirteen failed to meet the guarantee of total phos- 

 phoric acid by less than one-fourth per cent. Fourteen were 

 more than one-fourth per cent below but less than one-half 

 per cent. Five were more than one-half per cent below 

 but less than three-fourths per cent. Two were more than 

 three-fourths per cent below but less than one per cent- 

 Thirteen failed to meet the guarantee in available phos- 

 phoric acid by less than one-fourth per cent. Nine were 

 more than one-fourth per cent below but less than one- 

 half per cent. One was more than one-half per cent below 



