II. THE CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF FERTILIZERS. 1. Introduction. 2. The trade values of fertilizing ingredients for 1896, and the examination of the standard materials supplying them. 3. The examination of home mixtures and special compounds. 4. The examination and valuation of manufactured brands, and sundry materials. 1. INTRODUCTION. The Fertilizer Law. The fertilizer law of this State is as follows: An act to regulate the manufacture and sale of fertilizers [approved March 24th, 1874, and amended March 27th, 1878]. 1. That every commercial fertilizer which shall be offered for sale in this State shall be accompanied by an analysis, stating the percentage therein of ammonia, or its equivalent of nitrogen; of potash, in any form or combination, soluble in distilled water; and of phosphoric acid in any form or combination; the portion of phosphoric acid soluble in distilled water; that portion soluble in a neutral solution of citrate of ammonia at a temperature not exceeding one hundred degrees Fahrenheit; and that portion of phosphoric acid not soluble in either of the above-named fluids, shall each be determined separately; and the material from which the phosphoric acid is obtained shall also be stated; a legible statement of such analysis shall accompany all packages or lots of over one hundred pounds sold, offered or exposed for sale. 5. That any person selling, offering or exposing for sale any commercial fertilizer without the analysis required by the first section of this act, or with an analysis stating that said fertilizer contains a larger percentage of any one or more of the constituents mentioned in said section than is contained therein, shall forfeit fifty dollars for the first offense and one hundred dollars for each subsequent offense; provided, further, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any manure sold at a price not exceeding one-half a cent per pound, nor to any imported guanos. From the Station's standpoint this involves: 1. The securing of samples. 2. The selection of the sample for examination. 1. The Securing of Samples. In order that the inspection of fertilizers may be of value to the State, it is necessary that the samples analysed should be beyond question as to having been properly taken and carefully preserved, so as to fairly and justly represent the bulk of the material from which they are drawn. Success in this particular depends as much on experience, is often as difficult to attain and is quite as important as the subsequent chemical work in the laboratory. For this reason the samples analysed under the act are with few exceptions taken by dulyauthorized Inspectors, many of whom have been doing this work for the Station for years. These gentlemen are farmers of the highest standing in the community, and are willing to assume this duty solely because it is regarded as a matter of vital interest to the farming public. The names of those who have represented the Station during the past season are as follows: At the beginning of the season each Inspector is furnished with a sampling tube, blanks for describing samples, bottle labels, etc., together with printed instructions regarding their use. Each Inspector is requested to secure a sample of every brand of commercial fertilizer that he can find in his district. A copy of the instructions, under which all samples are taken, is as follows: DIRECTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED IN SAMPLING FERTILIZERS. Inspectors may sample fertilizers found either: First-Upon farms. Second-In dealers' storehouses; or Third-In manufactories. The Station prefers that samples should be drawn either upon farms or in dealers' storehouses. In sampling fertilizers found upon farms, Inspectors should ascertain : First-That they are not part of stock of a past season, or of stock which is or has been carelessly stored. Second-That they were received in good condition; and have since been so stored that a noticeable gain or loss of moisture has been prevented. In sampling from dealers' storehouses, Inspectors should also ascertain whether the fertilizers are of old (last season's goods) or of new stock. Preference should always be given to the present season's goods. Circumstances may, however, make it advisable to sample old stock; in such cases, this fact must be distinctly stated by the Inspector in his report to the Station's Director. If for any reason it is found to be necessary to draw samples at factories, Inspectors should decline: First-To sample from piles of fertilizers. Second-To sample from bags which are not distinctly marked with the brand, the manufacturer's name, and the guaranteed analysis. If fertilizers are found stored in piles only, Inspectors should cause six or more bags to be filled from different portions of the piles; from these bags the samples may be drawn in the usual manner. Whenever the mechanical condition will allow, samples should be drawn by means of the sampling tube furnished by the Station. It is not desirable to sample lots of less than one-half ton of any one brand. In such small lots portions may be taken from each bag; in large lots each fifth or tenth bag may be opened. The several portions representing the same product should then be carefully mixed and a quart fruit jar filled, securely closed, and marked with labels furnished by the Station. As soon as a sample has been taken, and invariably before bags of another brand have been opened, the Inspector should carefully fill out the blank describing samples. He should copy from the bags: First-The brand. Second-The name of the manufacturer. Third-The guaranteed analysis. The other information needed for the description must be secured from the owner of the fertilizer. Each sample bottle should be separately wrapped in heavy paper, and carefully packed for transportation in a wooden box, properly closed. This box should be forwarded by express, directed to THE NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, Form for Description of Sample. In taking fair average samples, such as will justly represent the manufacturer as well as the consumer, it is very important that every precaution be taken, so that in case of a suit at law, the person signing the description can testify to its accuracy. The writing should be plain and legible. The filled-out form, if wrapped with the sample, will serve as a label. If any printed circular, analysis or statement accompanies the fertilizer, or is used in its sale, send a copy with the specimen. 1. Brand of fertilizer. 2. Name and address of manufacturer 3. Name and address of dealer from whose stock this sample is taken............ 4. Date of taking the sample.............. 5. Selling price per ton, hundred, bag or barrel........... 6. Selling weight claimed for each package weighed.......... 7. Actual weight of packages opened.. ......... 8. Total amount of this material on hand............. 9. Copy of analysis or composition affixed to packages of this fertilizer........... 10. Signature.. (To be signed in every case by the person taking sample.) 11. P. O. address.......... 2. The Selection of the Sample for Examination. As fast as the samples are secured they are shipped to the Station. Many duplicates are received but all are given a distinguishing number and properly stored, and an entry is made for each in an appropriate book, showing at a glance the name of the brand and the place or places where it has been found. From among the duplicates of each brand a selection is made at random, but with the aim in view of causing the analyses representing any one firm to be of samples drawn from as many different counties of the State as possible. This method of selection, it is believed, is more likely to cause the analyses to demonstrate the general quality of a manufacturer's product and to disarm any suspicion or insinuation on the part of rival dealers that the goods were specially prepared to be sampled, which might arise if the sample analysed was taken upon request. Under certain conditions, however, this rule is not strictly adhered to. When purchases are to be paid for according to the Station's analysis and their magnitude warrants, or when the analysis will add to the information of the Station, or will demonstrate a possible development of waste products into cheap sources of plant-food, or in other ways is of general interest, the Station performs the work free of charge; but in all cases it requires that full and sufficient information concerning the sample be furnished, in order that there may be no unnecessary duplication of work, and, when accomplished, the analysis may be of service to the general public. The following is a list of those business houses the analyses of whose goods are published in this report. MANUFACTURERS, ETC., WHOSE GOODS HAVE BEEN SAMPLED AND ANALYSED THIS YEAR. J. H. Allen............ J. J. Allen's Sons.......... Armour & Co Warren Atkinson........ H. J. Baker & Bro........ John Brown & Co............ Chandler, Russell & Chandler......... The Clark's Cove Fertilizer Co.......... E. A. Clendennin & Bro............ E. Frank Coe Co.. J. S. Collins & Son Cooper Glue Co.......... A. S. Core Fertilizer Works............. G. W. & H. Corson........ ......Lawrence Station, N. J. .Philadelphia, Pa. ..Chicago, Ill. .Mullica Hill, N. J. ..........No. 93 William St., New York City. Crocker Fertilizer and Chemical Co............ I. S. Curtis...................... ..No 133 Front St., New York City. Moorestown, N. J. .New York City. .........Buffalo, N. Y. ..Plymouth Meeting, Pa. ..No. 56 Pearl St., Buffalo, N. Y. ..Frenchtown, N. J. |