480 NATURE AND PROPBETIES OF SOILS 



drainag"e may be replaced in other and more practical ways. 

 By maintaining tlie soil org-anic matter the natural supply of 

 potash may in a loamy or clayey soil often be so influenced 

 as to render a potash fertilizer unnecessary. At least there 

 may be enough soil potash available so that the use of a com- 

 mercial form will not be profitable. 



270. Fertilizer inspection and control. — From the fact 

 that so many opportunities are open for fraud either as to 

 availability or as to the actual quantities of ingredients pres- 

 ent, laws have been necessary for controlling the sale of fer- 

 tilizers. These laws apply not only to the ready mixed goods 

 but to the separate carriers as well. Most states have such 

 laws, the western laws generally being superior to those in 

 force in eastern states, where the fertilizer sale is heavier. 

 This is because the western regulations are more recent and 

 the legislators have had the advantage of the experience gained 

 where fertilizers have long been used. Such laws are a pro- 

 tection not only to the public but to the honest fertilizer com- 

 pany as well, since spurious goods are kept off the market. 



Certain provisions are more or less common to most fer- 

 tilizer laws. In general, all fertilizers selling for a certain 

 price or over must pay a state license fee or a tonnage tax and 

 print the following data on the bag or on an authorized tag : 



1. Number of net pounds of fertilizer to a package, 



2. Name, brand, or trade-mark. 



3. Name and address of manufacturer. 



4. Chemical composition or guarantee. 



For the enforcement of such laws the states usually pro- 

 vide adequate machinery. The inspection and analyses may 

 be in the hands of the state department of agriculture, of the 

 director of the state agricultural experiment station, of a 

 state chemist, or under the control of any two of these. In 

 any case, a corps of inspectors is provided, the members of 

 which take samples of the fertilizers on the market throughout 

 the state. These samples are analyzed in laboratories provided 



