10 



Two samples of fish fertilizer, although equally pure, may differ from 

 60 to 100 per cent, in commercial value, on account of mere difference 

 in moisture. 



As existing laws of the State for control of the trade in commer- 

 cial fertilizers provides for the examination of licensed articles, the 

 attention of the Station has been directed mainly towards the exam- 

 ination of agricultural chemicals, the crude stock for the manufacture 

 of commercial fertilizers, and of prominent refuse materials from 

 manufacturing industries and elsewhere. 



Crude stock for the manufacture of fertilizers, and refuse material 

 of various descriptions, sent to the Station for examination, are 

 valued with reference to the market prices of their principal constit- 

 uents, taking into consideration at the same time their general fitness 

 for speed}' action. 



A large percentage of commercial fertilizing material consists of 

 refuse matter from various industries. The composition of these 

 substances depends on the mode of manufacture carried on. The 

 rapid progress in our manufacturing industry is liable to affect at 

 any time, more or less seriously, the composition of the refuse. A 

 constant inquiry into the character of the agricultural chemicals, and 

 of commercial manuvial refuse substances offered for sale, cannot 

 fail to secure confidence in their composition, and to diminish finan- 

 cial disappointment in consequence of their application. 



This work is carried on at the Station for the purpose of aiding 

 the farming community in a clear and intelligent appreciation of these 

 substances for manurial purposes. 



General experience in farm practice teaches that it is safer, for 

 economical reasons, to use commercial fertilizers rather as sup- 

 plements, than as substitutes for barn-yard manures. 



The advantages arising from the introduction of chemical and 

 commercial manurial substances, can only be secured to their full 

 extent when applied with reference to actual local wants of the soil, 

 and to special requirements of the crops under cultivation. 



It has been the aim in previous bulletins of the Station, to describe 

 ]t)riefly, — in connection with analytical reports regarding the compo- 

 sition, — also the peculiar character and the special merits of prom- 

 inent agricultural chemicals, and of refuse materials of various 

 industries, which are used for the manufacture of fertilizers for farm 

 purposes. 



This feature of the bulletins will be retained for the future, wher- 

 ever an inducement is offered. The information thus far given on 

 these occasions may be improved by studying the oflScial annual 

 reports on Commercial Fertilizers, published since 1873, in the Re- 

 port of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture ; and in the 

 first and second Annual Reports of the Station. A knowledge of 

 the sources and of the character of the ingredients which serve largely 

 for the manufacture of our commercial fertilizers, leads quite natu- 

 rally to a due appreciation of the importance of securing the proper 

 form for our circumstances. No mode of supplying our special 



