10 MAINE FERTILIZER CONTROL STATION. 



It will be possible, now that the Station bulletins are to be sent 

 directlj^ to farmers, to distribute information in regard to the 

 character of the fertilizers offered for sale, more promptly than has 

 been the case when the newspapers were the medium of communi- 

 cation. 



On the other hand large increase in the brands of fertilizers offered 

 for sale in this State will tend to delay the report of the spring in- 

 spection. 



Samples can not be collected until the new goods are shipped to 

 dealers, and the greater the number of brands sampled the longer the 

 time required to perform the analysis. 



{8) Chemical Analyses, (Mr Bartlett and Mr. Merrill.) 



It is to be noticed that of the nine Station ofBcers two are chem- 

 ists, who will devote nearly their entire time to analytical chemistry, 

 with perhaps some assistance. Almost all of the experimental work 

 to be undertaken in the field, barn or dairj', will require the aid of 

 the chemist in obtaining the data necessary to full and safe con- 

 clusions. Conclusions from experiments in plant feeding and cattle 

 feeding are often looked upon with suspicion as a guide to practice, 

 unless ch.emical analysis is employed to give full information about 

 the materials used, and the products obtained. Moreover, the 

 amount of analytical work involved in the inspection of fertilizers is 

 very great and because of the large business interests that are 

 affected by the report of this inspection, it is essential that the 

 analyses be reliable beyond question. So great is the necessity for 

 entirely trustworthy laboratory data, the Station has adopted the 

 policy of entrusting this work largely to men of experience at salaries 

 that shall tend to secure their services permanently, rather than to 

 employ mostly assistants of a lower grade, and at small salaries, 

 whose results would be less satisfactory even with constant supervi- 

 sion, and who would constantly be changing to more lucrative 

 positions. 



(9) An important part of the conduct of field and feeding 

 experiments is the immediate supervision of the details of their 

 execution. An experiment may involve ever so interesting a 

 problem, and may be ever so wisely planned, but unless it is carried 

 out with good judgment and fidelity on the part of the one who 

 attends to its actual execution, it is likely to be worse than useless. 

 It is no easy thing to exercise the care necessary to correctness in 



