Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-24
{ From the Maryland Farmer. J

From the Maryland Farmer
The Guano and Fertilizer Trade. Its character
and Importance. How it should be conducted.
Considering It's extent and Importance, we pre-.
sumo there is no trade less understood by those
interested purchasers, than the trade In ferti-
hzers. Farmers generally do not give attention to
the composition Of the fertilizers they buy. or con-
slider what constitutes their value. That they
should do so, is manifest upon the least reflection
All articles of merchandise may be divided into
two general classes. The first class embraces all
those articles of trade, the value Of which be
determined by observation and handling. AS
all men possessed alike of the faculty of
sight and the other senses, the ability of all to
Judge of the value of merchandise of this class is
varied only by experience or practice. All men,
for example, having experience, can Judge OF the
quality OF grain, PrOrlSa0nS groceries, dry goods
&c, and hence competent to protect them
selves in their purchase of merchandise of this
kind.
Inc second class of merchandise referred to,
embraces all articles of trade and commerce in
which the value is hidden, and consequently, III
the nature of things, cannot be judged Of or de-
termined by the eridence of the senses. Their
value cannot be seen, tasted or felt, hence man
can Judge of their quality IN the of mer
chandiSe of the first class named.
Fertilizers, metallic ores, such "copper" lead &C.,
belong this second class of articles Of trade and
commerce, and their value can be determined only
by men whose especial education enables them to
is well known fact that one copper ore is worth
more money per ton than another, because It con-
talns larger per cent of copper. /: is the guam
uty of copper contained In the ore which consti-
tutes the actual value. Now that cannot be
determined by observation handling hence the
dealers i'll copper ole, and other merchandise of
this class, must furnish the buyers with the evil
dence of what amount of metal there is contained
IN the article for which he is required to pay
given price, and that only be done by inspec-
ti0n and it is true that in the sale of all merchan
die of this class, except fertilizers, the buyer is
furnished with authentic reports of inspection, and
the consequence is the buyers of copper always
get what they pay for. But the dealers in tertHi-
do not furnish inspection reports of what they
sell, and the consequence is, persons have no
surance of the value of what they buy, and not
unfrequently lose both money and crops, many
can testify.
Now, the elements substances which consti-
tute the value of all fertilizers, precisely the
and what they are is well known, and how
much of them is contained in any fertilizer
be easily ascertaned with absolute certainty, so
that there is no reason under the sun why farmers
should not be furnished with the knowledge Of
what they receive in value, when they buy fertG
ger, the same the buyer of copper or other ores
1t is known fact, that animal matter, ammonia,
soluble phosphate and bone phosphate Of lime, are
the only substances in Peruvian and other guano,
and fertilizers of lohaterer name, which gives them
their ralue, and one Is better than another just
exactly in proportion they contain more or less
Of these things in proper proportion and condition
This is matter of common sense there is nothing
mysterious or complicated about it and ali it
wants is little attention and reflection, on the
part of farmers, to place them in position in
which they cannot be deceived. We have been
and are surprised that intelligent farmers will
come to our cities and invest large Of money
in fertilizers without the least knowledge of what
they get to value, except perhaps that they
had bought something of the same name before,
which turned out well Whether it is worth the
price asked, they cannot tell Whether they
could buy more of the substances for the
less money in an article of some other name, they
do not know. Is not this cropping in the dark,
when light is highly important and easily had ?
Surely it is time for farmers to give attention to
this matter.
In England, fertilizers are sold, as copper ore is
sold under inspection.
Farmers can establish the same rule and custom
in this market if they will refuse to buy from
dealers who do not furnish reliable inspection
ports of lchdt they sell. These reports must be
authentic; the dealer must be able to exhibit to
his customers the original lcritten report of the
chemist, certifying that the samples were taken by
himself from the bags or bbs. which are delivered
to customers This is the only way in which this
business can be done for the protection, both Of
consumers and the legitimate trade.
Surely the extent and importance of the trade
demand that the protection should be ex-
tended to farmers that is given to the buyers of
and other merchandise of the same general
class JOHN S. REESE.