INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS. 



The inspection of fertilizers by tlie Maine Experiment Station 

 for the year 1892 has required the analysis of seventy-four 

 brands of mixed fertilizers involving the selection of one 

 hundred and ninety samples. In order to secure these 

 samples, it has been necessary to send an agent into nearly 

 every section of the State. Samples were taken in forty one 

 cities and townships, often at several points in the same township. 

 An effort is made to begin this w^ork in March, but it is usually 

 found that new goods have been shipped to but few places so 

 that a successful canvass of the State can not be cai'ried on until 

 April, therefore the completion of the sampling and analytical 

 work can not be reached until late in June. It will be noticed 

 that three samples of each brand have not been secured in all 

 cases. 



In general this has been owing to the following causes : Selling 

 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. 



Samples for 1892 were selected by Mr. 8. H. T. Hayes, an 

 agent of the Station, acting under its instructions. The samples 

 were drawn from three or four packages, mostly one hundred 

 pound bags, so that in all cases where three samples were taken 

 the analysis represents from nine to twelve packages of the 

 goods. In some cases as many as five samples were taken. 



The drawing of the samples is accomplished by means of a 

 sampling tube which can be made to reach every portion of the 

 package, and as several drafts are made from each package, it is 

 readily seen that the method of taking samples is a very thorough 

 one, and there is no good reason for supposing that the contents 

 of the glass jar that is forwarded to the Station do not fairly 

 represent the goods sampled. In. every instance a sample exactly 

 similar in composition to the one taken to the station is left in 

 the hands of the agent selling the goods, thus giving the manu- 

 facturers an opportunity, by procuring an analysis of this sample, 

 to check the analytical work of the Station. 



