Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-11
If our best we brayely do.

MANUREs, PHosPHATEs, AND OTHER
FERTILIZERS. - Mr.. Editor Il see by
some of the agricultural papers that the
Legislatures of some of the states begin to
think that it is about time to put stop to
the impositions and frauds practiced upon
farmers, in the manufacture and sale of
what is called Commercial manures, or
Fertilizers. | am of their opinion; for it
appears to me that farmers can not af-
ford to pay such big prices for fertilizers
when they can make better ones at home
for very much less expense. There is quite
a difference between the cost of barrel of
lime and the cost of barrel Of superphOs-
phate of lime, as sold in this market. This
phosphate, they tell us, is lime with a little
phosphorus in it, and perhaps little harts-
horn, or ammonia. Now, practically, how
many of us farmers can ten which is the
best fertilizer the barrel Of unslacked lime
or the same quantity of superphosphate of
lime? How many of us farmers can tell
whether, or not, our soil has superabun-
dance Of phosphate or of lime? The ma
jority of our farms in Orleans county are
short of lime, and ammonia, and mould /;
but fail to see how our farmers can afford
TO replenish their farms by using the com
mercial fertilizer Of the day. How many
of us farmers will buy barrel or two Of
phosphate, and at the same time will throw
away the genuine bone and soap manure
from the soap kettle? But there is only a
small quantity of this; and yet it possibly
may be of more value than barrel of the
phosphate so called. AS to the ammonia
in barrel Of this commercial phosphate
Of lime, there is probably more ammonia
dsengaged and goes up from the barns
baruyards and outbuildings OfOur farmer,
d1ly than can be extracted from it. If
these things are so, it is time that farmers
were protected by legislative enactments
prohibiting the sale ofspurious fertilizers.
Below is recipe for making a HON,
made fertilizer worth the trouble of making
Take cart-loads (say 100 bushels) of
dry sand, or dry muck, and put the same
in convenient place to the stable, for bed
ding; then take 100 bushels of charcoal
and put it in bins or barrels then take Il
or 20 bushels of ashes, and more if yol
can get them, and have the ashes ready t
SOW broadcast upon wheat or grass lane
about the 25th of May, or at some Other
convenient time. That, you will readily
see, disposes of the ashes now for the bal
ance of the compound, and how to mix anC
dispose of it, Take as much Of the sanC
as will absorb the liquid excrements of tn,
cattle and spread it upon the stable floor
being careful to arrange it with view t
taking up the liquids; then in the morning
scrape all the. excrements and wet sant
into convenient heaps and add about a
much of the charcoal as there is of tn
sand, and mix the whole well together an
deposit the same under cover until tim
for applying it to the land, which shout,
be in usual quantities for first class ma
nures.
The excrements of animals, it is sale
contain all the properties of genuine phos
phate of lime By the above arrangement
these properties are all preserved, or n
tanned, the sand and charcoal acting as al
sorbents. The cost of this compound
small compared with some of these CON
mercial manures so generally approved
the public.
p. 5. Perhaps some one can tell yo
why l did not put the ashes into my con
pound.
SCAVENGER.