INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS. 



The Station Report for 1889 shows that in that year forty-three 

 (43) brands of fertilizers were inspected. In 1890 the number 

 of brands has been increased to sixty-four (64) (including seven 

 (7) brands of bone), for the inspection of which one hundred and 

 fifty (150) samples were selected. There is evidently quite an 

 increase in the activity of the fertilizer trade, as new firms are in- 

 troducing their goods, and those manufacturers having an estab- 

 lished trade are adding to the number of brands which they offer. 



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 (1890) 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-pound bags, so that in those cases where 

 three samples were taken they represent twelve packages. 



The Trade Values op Fertilizers for 1890. 

 The trade values given below which are used by this Station are 

 those "agreed upon by the experiment stations of Massachusetts, 

 New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut for use in their respec- 

 tive states during 1890. The valuations obtained by use of the 

 following figures will be found to agree fairly with the average 

 retail price at the large markets of standard raw materials such 

 as :" 



Sulphate of Ammonia, Azotin, 



Nitrate of Soda, Ammonite. 



Dried Blood, Dry Ground Fish, 



Muriate of Potash, Bone or Tankage. 



Sulphate of Potash, Ground So. Carolina Rock, 



Plain Superphosphates. 



