REPORT OF ANALYSES OF COMMERCIAL 
Pet Anho HOR CH BALG OF 1899" 
L. L. Van SLYKE. 

SUMMARY. 
(1) Samples Collected.— During the fall of 1899, the Station 
collected 138 samples of commercial fertilizers, representing 130 
different brands. Of these different brands 101 were complete 
fertilizers; of the others, 15 contained phosphoric acid and potash 
without nitrogen; 3 contained nitrogen and phosphoric acid with- 
out potash; and 10 contained phosphoric acid alone. 
(2) Nitrogen.— The 101 brands of complete fertilizers con- 
tained nitrogen varying in amount from 0.59 to 4.91 per ct. and 
averaging 1.65 per ct. The average amount of nitrogen found 
by the Station analysis exceeded the average guaranteed amount 
by 0.13 per ct., the guaranteed average being 1.52 per ct. and the 
average found being 1.65 per ct. 
In 79 brands of complete fertilizers, the amount of nitrogen 
found was equal to or above the guaranteed amount, the excess 
varying from 0.01 to 1.35 per ct. and averaging 0.23 per ct. 
In 22 brands, the nitrogen was below the guaranteed amount, 
the deficiency varying from 0.03 to 0.62 per ct. and averaging 
0.21 per ct. In 18 cases, the deficiency was less than 0.5 per ct. 
The amount of water-soluble nitrogen varied from 0.03 to 4.79 
per ct. and averaged 0.62 per ct. 

* Partial reprint of Bulletin No. 173. 
