38 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



INSPECTIONS FOR 1898. 

 Chas. D. Woods. 



The Station officers take pains to obtain for analysis samples 

 of all commercial fertilizers and concentrated commercial feed- 

 ing stuffs coming under the law, but the organized co-operation 

 of farmers is essential for the full and timely protection of their 

 interests. Granges and other organizations can render efficient 

 aid by sending early in the season, samples taken from stock in 

 the market and drawn in accordance with the station directions 

 for sampling. 



There is no provision made by law for the analysis of agri- 

 cultural seeds. Seeds, taken in accordance with the station 

 directions for sampling, will be examined for $1 per sample. 



Directions for sampling and blanks for forwarding samples of 

 fertilizers, feeding stuffs and seeds will be sent on application. 



The use of commercial fertilizers in the State seems to be 

 somewhat on the increase. From information furnished b}' most 

 of the manufacturers shipping into the State, a conservative esti- 

 mate places the amount used in 1898 at 17,000 tons. For 

 the most part there is entire harmony between the manufacturers 

 and their agents and the consumers. In no instance this year 

 has the Station received complaints of quality of goods from the 

 consumers. The demand for low priced goods has increased the 

 number of low grade fertilizers in the market. It is not known 

 if the presence of an increased number of low grade goods indi- 

 cates a corresponding increase in the sale of this class of fertili- 

 zers, but even if it does it is probable that in the most instances 

 the purchaser is obtaining that which he pays for. The low grade 

 goods as well as the high class are for the most part up to or 

 above the minimum guarantee. 



Requirements of the Lazv. 



The full text of the law regulating the sale and analysis of 

 commercial fertilizers will be sent on application to the Station. 

 Its chief requirements are as follows : 



The Brand. Each package of commercial fertilizer shall bear, 

 conspicuously printed, the following statements : 



