The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-09
(From the Maryland Farmer. J
The Guano and Fertilizer Trade. Its character
and Importance. How it should be conducted


The Guano and Fertilizer Trade. Its character
Considering Its extent and Importance, we pre-
sumo there is no trade less understood by those
interested purchasers, than the trade in ferti-
lizers. 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 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 can be
determined by observation and handling. AS
all men are 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, provisions, groceries, dry goods,
&C., and are hence competent to protect them
selves in their purchase of merchandise of this
kind.
The 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-
value cannot be seen, tasted or telt hence no man
can judge of their quality as in the case Of mer-
chandse Of the first class named.
fertilizers, metallic ores such copper, lead, &C.,
belong to this second class of articles Of trade and
commerce, and their value can be determined only
by men whose especial education enables them to
discover the proportion of ralue by inspection 1t
is we'll known fact that one copper ore is worth
more money per ton than another, because it con.
,ains larger per cent. Of copper. l: is the guam
tity of copper contained in the which consti.
tutes the actual value. Now that cannot be
determined by observation or handling, hence the
dealers i'll copper ore, and other merchandise of
this class, must furnish the buyers with the evi-
dence of what amount of metal there is contained
in the article for which he is required to pay q
given price, and that only be done by inspec-
ton, and it is true that in the sale Of all merchan
die of this Glass; ercept fertilizers, the buyer is
furnished with authentic reports of inspection, and
&l,1 e
get what they pay fer. But the dealers in fertiH-
GERS do not furnish inspection reports of what they
sell, and the consequence is, persons have no as.
surance of the value Of what they buy, and not
unfrequently lose both money and crops, az many
can testify.
Now, the elements or substances which consti.
tute the value of all fertilizers, precisely the
same and what they are is we'll known and how
much of them is contained in any fertilizer can
be easily ascertalned with absolute certainty, so
that there is reason under the sun why farmers
should not be furnished with the knowledge Of
what they receive in value, when they buy fert-
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, nre
the only substances In Peruvian and other guano,
and fertilizers of achdterer name, which gives them
their rdlue, and is better than another lust
exactly in proportion as they contain more or less
OF these things in proper proportion and condition
This is matter of common sense; there is nothing
mysterious complicated about it (; and all 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 surprised that intelligent farmers will
come to cities and invest large sums of money
in fertilizers, without the least knowledge Of what
they get to value, except perhaps that they
had bought something of the 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 same or
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 1t is time for farmers to give attention to
this matter
In England, fertilizers are sold, as copper ore is
sold, under inspection.
Farmers establish the same rule and custom
in this market, if they will refuse to buy from
dealers who do not furnish reliable inspection re-
ports Of ,chat they sell. These reports must be
authentic; the dealer must be able to exhibit to
his customers the original acritte, report Of the
chemist, certifying that the samples taken by
himself from the bags or bbls. 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
ores and other merchandise Of the same general
class. JOIN S. REESE.
Pacific Guano is sold by the following author
lied agents in the southern states, from whom
supplies may be procured by dealers at local