Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-15
F0r me EH3HTeI
SlrpER- pHOSpHATES OF LIME.

Messrs. Editors: In the May and July numbers Of
the Southern Planter / called the attention OF the
farmers of Virginia 10 the various super phosphates
of lime which are offered for their purchase in the
Baltimore aud Richmond markets. In the last OF
these articles few words were said in relation 10 the
composition of Rhodes super phosphate OF llme
manufactured in Baltimore. The manufacturer aaw
fit to reply to what said in relation bis manure
throuph the columns Of the Enquirer and Southern
planter. by charging me with ignorance of my pro-
fsssion. Anticipating, when undertook the anay
ais of these manures that should be favored with
few attacks of this kind, was not surprised at the
appearance of the article and at hrst d!d not THINK
Il necessary 70 notice it at ALL but since it has been
copied into q number Of papers, and has received a
much more extensive circulation than the article
which called it forth, think it due TO myself that
sbould saw a few words in rejolnder
On submitting Rhodes super phosphate to analysis,
found that it contained l9s per cent Of phosporic
acid, which calculated as bone phosphate of lime,
would be equivalent to about 4O4 per cent OF bone
nhosohste Of lime; Of this little more than five per
cant was soluble in water, which, calculated super
nhosnhate would give about seven and quarter
ner cent of soluble or phosphate of lime in the
manure, also found that after all soluble matter
had been removed, eBervescence took place when.
aver any strong acid was poured upon il; and affirm
that having tested it, the gas gwen on was caroonc
acid Now, since the evolution OF carbonio acid,
under such circumstances, necessarily implies the
presence Of an insoube carbonate ] charged the
manufacturer with aduerailon. IL 10 true that the
original bone dust or bone black, out OF which the
mature ia made does contain more or less carbonate
of lime: hut if the super phosphate is properly pre-
pared whether by this or that receipt theP'esence o.
lie carbonate of lime IN tie manufactured article IS an
,mpossi5ilily-the suphuric acid would remove all
traces of carbonc acid, and leave manure which
could not he ade to eervesce by the action of any
other acid.
Mr.. Rhodes. forgetting, suppose, that the carbon.
ates can be detected, if present IN the super.
phosphates, denies the presence of carbonate OF lime
in fhaf ,,lin vinO
we Join issue with Prof. Gillian and say, that the ex.
istence of soluble or super. phosphate Of lime and
carbonate of lime, is chemical inpOssbility; it ne.
YER has existed, exist, and never will exist
in the same preparation; The presence al Inc one Hfcfs
S0rRy excludes Tie presence 81 TIE 0thcr.
"For this we have the authority Of the leading
chemists of the day &c.
In answer to this can only say, that having found
both these substances in Rhodes suPer.pnos
phate, | must insist upon their being there,
in spite of the authority of the best chemists
of the day." and leave the manufacturer to explain
how they came there That they can both be pre-
sent in the same mixture Is certain and requires no
lengthy argument, to show why they may b. so. The
super phosphate of lime, when first prepared by the
action of suphuric acid upon bone dust, Is generally
stiff pasty mass, OF such conslsence, that if the
carbonate of lime s added to IT, complete reaction
between the two would seldom take place, for the
simpe reason that il ia impossible for the free acid
in the manure To into that intimate contact with
the carbonate which is necessary TO the entire reno
val Of or the Diner but u ths manure were al
lowed TO dry ND before the carbonate added TO it,
no 70 action whatever could take place between them
The presence Of the carbonate of lime in super
is a proof that there is something
wrong about the article. One of two things must
have taken place; an additional quantity of bone dust
or bone black (both Of which contains carbonate of
lime) mus, have been used after the preparation Of
the manure, the carbonate Ilseh has been used.
The addition OF the latter could be nothing less than
a gross fraud while the use of the former, although
not go Objectionable, is nevertheless an outrage upon
the farmer for he is made to pay for this added bone
dust a, the rate of from twelve to eighteen dollars
ton more than he would have to pay for if he bought
il elsewhere.
take in his manure as it is prepared from formula
given him by DR.. Higgins, State chemist Of Maryland
have seen DR.. Higgins analysis OF the manure
which only proves that Mr.. Rhodes can make very |
pure article and have ne hesitation in saying that
nsd he stuck to his formula, he never would have
heard from me, e1cep. in terms OF commendati"n.
Yours, truly, WILLIAM 1lLhAM'
Va. NJ. Institute, Sept. /, 1887.