2 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



the manufacturiDg company, and a duplicate sample shall in each 

 case be left with this representative. 



The first provision of this law has not been properly observed. 

 Notwithstanding the fact that there has been issued in February 

 of both 1888 and 1889, from the office of this Station, a circular 

 letter stating the law and calling attention to its requirements, 

 which was addressed to all but one of the parties whose goods are 

 now sold in the State, only a minority of the manufaciurers took 

 the trouble this year to make the required statement concerning 

 the brands of fertilizers they proposed to put on the market in 

 Maine. Those vvho did comply in 1889 with this part of the law 

 are as follows : 



Bradley Fertilizer Co., Boston, Mass. 



Crocker Fertilizer and Chemical Co., Buffalo, N. Y. 



Mayo & Hix, So. Boston, Mass. 



S.. G. Otis, Hallowell, Maine. 



Sagadahoc Fertilizer Co., Bowdoinham, Me. 



Standard Fertilizer Co., Boston, Mass. 



J. A. Tucker & Co., Boston, Mass. 

 All the other companies mentioned in connection with the ferti- 

 lizers sampled have failed, either through misunderstanding or 

 neglect, to attend to this matter. 



The object of this provision of the law is that the Station may 

 be kept informed as to the fertilizers sold in the State, without 

 the otherwise attendant trouble and uncertainty, and it is highly 

 desirable that it shall be more strictly observed, or if necessary, 

 enforced, in the future. 



In all cases three samples of each brand have not been secured. 

 In general this has been owing to the following causes, viz. : Sale 

 of the fertilizer at but very few points ; and finding only the goods 

 held over from last year's sales in the hands of nearly all the 

 agents visited. 



SELECTION OF SAMPLES. 



The samples for this year (1889) were selected by Mr. S. H. 

 T. Hayes, an agent of the Station who acted under instructions 

 which it is believed were faithfully and accurately observed. 



In nearly all instances the samples were drawn from four 

 packages, mostly 100-pouud bags, so that in those cases where 

 three samples were taken they represent twelve packages. As 

 these packages were chosen by the Station representative from 

 three separate lots of fertilizers at different times and in 



