APPENDIX. 143 



facta with which he has to deal is false in theory and less helpful 

 in practice than it should be. 



(The bulletin gave the manufacturers guarantees and the analyses 

 of manufacturer's samples, but as these figures have only a passing 

 value they are omitted here. The comments on the results of the 

 inspection follow, however. W. H. J.) 



A comparison is made of the samples selected by a Station repre- 

 sentative, the manufacturer's samples and the minimum guarantees. 



The important considerations are the following: 



(1.) Fifty-seven brands are involved in this comparison. 



(2.) The averages for nitrogen are: Guarantee, 1.99 per cent., 

 manufacturer's sample, 2.14 per cent., Station sample, 2.09 per 

 cent. For available phosphoric acid the averages are: Guarantee, 

 7.84 per cent., manufacturer's sample, 9.05 per cent., Station sample, 

 8.58 per cent. For potash: Guarantee, 3.31 per cent., manufacturer's 

 sample, 3.60 per cent., Station sample, 3.42 per cent. 



(3.) In the fifty-seven brands, the Station sample as compared 

 with the manufacturer's sample was, in nitrogen practically the 

 same twenty-three times, poorer twenty-two times and better 

 twelve times; in available phosphoric acid, practically the same 

 fourteen times, poorer thirty-one times and better twelve times; 

 in potash, practically the same sixteen times, poorer twenty-four 

 times and better seventeen times. 



(4.) Comparing the Station sample with the minimum guaran- 

 tee, the Station sample was, in nitrogen, practically the same 

 twenty-seven times, poorer nine times, better twenty-one times; 

 in available phosphoric acid, practically the same twenty times, 

 poorer seven times, better thirty times; in potash, practically the 

 same seventeen times, poorer fourteen times, and better twenty- 

 six times. 



It is quite customary for manufacturers to state a minimum and 

 a maximum guarantee for the percentages of the ingredients of 

 their goods, as for instance the guarantee for available phosphoric 

 acid would be eight to ten per cent. The above comparisons indicate 

 that the manufacturers do not intend to do much more than make 

 good the minimum guarantee, and that this is all the purchaser 

 can safely expect. 



It is gratifying to note that as a rule the fertilizers sold in the 

 State are well up to this guarantee. Indeed, there is no case which 

 appears to be an attempt to defraud, although in a few instances 

 the particular lots of goods sampled are not quite as good as they 

 should be. 



Maine State College, 

 Orono, Me., 1895. 



