VOL.. LXI
JUN^2190S
PUBLIC LIBRARY
INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE 23, 1906.
NO. 25
FERTILIZERS  I
Tons   of   Commercial   Fertilizers   and
Distribution bv Counties.
We are indebted to Purdue University for the accompanying map of Indiana aud table showing the tons of commercial fertilizers sold in this State by
counties. The numbers shown in each
county on the map gives the location
of the tons where these fertilizers are
si Id. It will be noticed that much the
largest quantity of fertilizers are used
In the southern part of the State, where
the clay soils most abounds and which
require more plant food than the blacker soils of the northern part of the
State. The Purdue bulletin calls attention to the fact however that annually the use of fertilizers are increasing in the north portion, where constant grain growing is exhausting the
plant food of the black soils also, and
that iu a short time, the bulletin states,
large quantities of fertilizers will be used in all northern Indiana as well as in
the southern section.
— Tons  Used  in  Each County. —*.
Counties.
Tons.
Counties.
Tons.
Allen	
..    38
Lake   ..   .
.  105
IVirtliolomew
.  580
Daporte   . .
.    70
Benton   . .
. .    20
Lawrence   .
485
Boone   ..
..    20
Madison   .
.    25
Brown   ..
. . 225
Marlon   . .
. 275
'   9
Marshall   .
.    20
Cass	
..    25
Martin  ..
. 285
Clark	
..1060
Miami   . .
.    50
Clay	
.. 505
Monroe ..
.1100
Crawford   .
.. 835
Morgan   ..
. 340
Daviess  ...
.. 235
Newton ..
.  165
Dearborn  ..
.. 915
Noble  ..   .
. 490
Decatur  . .   .
..1570
Ohio   ..   ..
.  150
Dekalb  ..
.. 884
Orange   ..
.1205
Delaware ..
..    25
Owen   . .   .
. 335
°040
Perry  ..   .
.1500
. 240
Elkhart.   ..
Pike   ..   ..
. 425
Fayette   ..   .
.. 830
Porter   ..
. 195
Fountain  ..
.    20
Posey  ..   .
. 245
Franklin   . .
.1610
Pulaski   ..
. 400
.    70
Putnam  .
.  165
Gibson....
. 730
Randolph
.    25
Grant	
.    25
Ripley   . .
.2165
•Greene....
. 520
Bush   ..   .
.1010 <
Hamilton   . .
.    95
St. Joseph
.    43 '
Hancock   . .
.    85
Scott ....
...1230
Harrison  ..
.3460
Shelby   ..   .
... 170
Hendricks   ..
.    35
Spencer   . .
..2400
Henry   ..
. 475
Starke   ..   .
...    65
Huntington   .
.    50
Switzerland
.. 750
Jackson.   ..
.1130
Tippecanoe
.    50
•lasper   ..    . .
. 400
...630
•Tefferson   ..
.1735
Vanderburg
.. 850
Jennings   . .
. 988
Wabash   ..
..    60
Johnson  ..   .
. 565
Warrick   ..
..  975
Knox	
.  125
Washington
.   .2305
Kosciusko  ..
. . 60
Wayne . .   .
...1010
Lagrange  . .
.    15
White   ..    .
... 385
Under the state law the chemist at
Purdue collected samples of fertilizers
from all parts of the State and analyzed
them to the number of 734 during the
year. Of this number there were 312
equal to the legal guarantee in every particular, and the number equal to the
guarantee in value was 528 samples.
There is a law providing a penalty for
selling fertilizers below the legal standard in composition. The University bulletin says:
"'It is believed that a large majority of
tlie firms selliug fertilizers in the State
are attempting to comply with the law in
regard to the composition of their fertilizers, nnd that they are doing so as nearly
as can reasonably be expected. The analyses show, however, that there are a
few firms whose brands are on the aver-
Steuben
Fertilizer Map of Indiana.      Sec explanations on this page.
age so far below the legal guarantee as to
indicate either gross carelessness or an attempt to defraud."
— Baw Materials for Home Mixiug. —
On this subject we quote from the built tin as follows:
"Iu sonic sections of the State farmers
wish to make mixtures that are not on
sale in their locality or to do home mixing
to duplicate brands tbat are ou sale.
Farmers report a considerable saving and
satisfactory results from this work. Home
mixing is generally ou a cash basis, while
most of the goods are sold on long time.
If the whole business were on a cash
basis it would result in a great saving to
the consumer.
Those who wish to try home mixing
should remember that the raw -materials
require to be registered and guaranteed
just as any other fertilizer. Formerly
it was difficult to obtain raw materials,
but now some of the largest firms have
registered them and made, them available
to farmers.
Farmers and dealers handling raw material should remember that home mixing
should really be done at home, and from
registered and labelled materials. A
dealer who mixes registered rawmatjerials
and delivers the mixture to his customer
therehy makes a new brand, and unless
it is registered and labeled both denier
anil buyer may be subjected to penalties.
On the other hand, the law expressly
provides that a fanner may take home
and mix any registered raw materials in
any way he may choose. This distinction
may seem at first rather unnecessary, but
is a proper one to make. Some of the
worst cases of swindling we have ever
found iu the fertilizer business were in
connection with dealers who pretended to
mix fertilizer to Order.
It is well known that most manufacturers du not wish tii sell raw materials, and
hence the registration of them by a considerable number of firms must te consid-
erenl as something of a concession to the
growing demand. It is only fair that
those in need of raw material should, show
some appreciation of this and purchase
only from those who have registered it.
In planning the purchase of raw materials fanners should keep in mind that
while potash salts and nitrate of soda are
very constant in composition, tankage is
a term that is applied to products of very
varying    composition. Therefore     the
guarantee on tankage should be carefully
examined, for some kinds of tankage
contain three times as much nitrogen as
other kinds. As a rule the higher the
nitrogen the lower the phosphoric acid
in tankage. The phosphoric acid in
tankage has practically the same value
as that in bone.
— Important to Agents, Dealers aud
Consumers. —
The Purdue Bulletin further says:
Iu many places in the State our deputies find  that  the requirements of the
fertiliser  law   are  not  well  understood
either  i y  agents  or consumers,  nnd  in
order that a better understanding may
prevail, the essential  points of the law
are briefly summarised as follows:
Manufacturers, dealers, agents or
persons causing fertiliser to be sold or
offered for sale in Indiana, by sample
or otherwise, should be certain:
First.—That the necessary statement
and certificate containing the facts required by Section 1 have been registered
with the State Chemist and tags secured for each brand offered for sale.
Second.—That each and every package of such fertilizer of 200 pounds or
fraction thereof offered for sale in Indiana has attached to it, in a conspicuous place on the outside thereof, the
ollicial label of the State Chemist. This
provision includes the sample bottles
used by agents.
Third.—That each and every shipment of such fertilizer offered for sale
in the State equals in composition the
minimum guarantee registered with the
State Chemist.
Consumers, agents und dealers should
refuse to accept any fertilizer which
has attached to the outside of each
aud every package the label of the
State Chemist, having printed thereon
the official number of the brand (which
number must be higher than No. 2714\
the name of the manufacturer, the location of his principal office, the name
of the brand, the minimum guarantee
agreed upon at time of purchase, and
the facsimile signature of the State
Chemist.
Fourth.—The only materials sold for
manurial purposes which are exempt
under the provisions of the Indiana Fertilizer Law are barn-yard manure, man,
lime, wood-ashes and plaster, and these
must Ve sold under their respective
names.
Many persons believe the manufacturer
to be the only person subject to penalties
for violation of the law, but this is not the
case. Pennlties mny be inflicted on any
oue having fertilizer in his possession
which is not up to the standard shown on
the label.
If the dealer or purchaser wishes to
shift the responsibility for fertilizer sold
or purchased which fails to meet the re-
ijimcinciits of the law, it should be accomplished by a special clause in a written
contract, and may take the form of au
agreement that the agent, or purchaser
may dcdiwt from the obligation for the
payment of fertilizer, all costs and penalties; or other loss incurred through failure
ot such fertilizer to meet the requirements
of the Indiana Fertilizer Law. We are
informed that some companies whose
brands have always made an excellent
showing on inspection have voluntarily
made such .contracts with their agents.
Dealers in fertilizer should refuse to accept any shipment to which tags are not
attached until such tags are furnished,
ami should then attach the tags before removing the fertilizer from the car.
Do not have in your possession any fertilizer which does not bear the label of the
State Chemist.