558 SOILS: PROPERTIES AND MANAGEMENT 



Guarantee required by the State of North Dakota 



Percentage of N in nitrates Percentage of P 2 6 soluble 

 Percentage of N as ammonia in water 



Percentage of N total Percentage of P 2 5 re- 



verted 

 Percentage of P2O5 in- 

 Percentage of K 2 soluble soluble 



Percentage of K 2 as chloride Percentage of P 2 () 6 total 



Since a fertilizer law is designed primarily to protect 

 not only the purchasers but also the manufacturers, a 

 certain amount of variation is allowed below a guarantee. 

 This is a matter of extreme variation in the different states. 

 Ordinarily, also, the offering for sale of any leather matter 

 or its products, either separately or in mixtures, is pro- 

 hibited, unless so stated specifically on the package. 



For the enforcement of such laws, the states usually 

 provide adequate machinery. The inspection and analyses 

 may be in the hands of the state department of agricul- 

 ture, of the director of the state agricultural experiment 

 station, of a state chemist, or under the control of any 

 two of these. In any case, a corps of inspectors is pro- 

 vided, the members of which take samples of the fertilizers 

 on the market throughout the state. These samples are 

 analyzed in laboratories provided for the purpose, in 

 order to ascertain whether the mixture is up to its guar- 

 antee. If the fertilizer falls below the guarantee, — allow- 

 ing, of course, for the variation permitted by law, — the 

 manufacturer is subject to prosecution. 



A more effective check on fraudulent guarantees, how- 

 ever, is found in publicity. The state law usually pro- 

 vides for the publication each year of the guaranteed and 

 found analyses of all brands inspected. Not only has 



