Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-17
THAT PHOSPHATE ROCK.

AVON
THAT PHOSPHATE ROCK"
The Montpelier Journal gets quite warm
flor the season) over some remarks in the
FARMER about certain deposit Of "phos-
phato rock" which was claimed in its col
umns to exist along the line Of the M. Il W.
r. r. r.; and declares that the FARMER
does not specify any incorrect statement
made by us that would be proof Of its
charge. Aud it does not do this for the
simple reason that it must hide its own ig-
norauce behind generalities. ="
Had it been able to specify single state
ment made 10y us that revealed ignorance Of
what we were talking about it evidently
would have done so but not being able to
do this, and also attributing to us dishonest
motives in our article, it has shown itself to
be capable Of SANDER, when it is incapa-
BILE of fair criticism"
This is really severe, aud would make us
feel very badly indeed, were it not that, in
condemning the FARMER in these energetic
terms, the Journal is really not pitching into
us, but into one of the highest geological au-
thorities in the State. The affair reminds us
of the anecdote of the little boy who was
whipped by his mother, and burst out laugh
ing after she was through. On her inquir'
ing what he was laughing at, he replied
ITO think how you were fooled. 1t wasn't
me that stole the jam at all it was sister
Sally"
Before writing the paragraph of which
our irascible cotemporary complains, we had
sent the extract from the Journal to a conf
petent scientist, and simply embodied the
substance of his reply in our article. But
in doing so we had no. the slightest inten-
ton of rejecting upon any one connected
with that paper. We supposed it had
merely printed statements furnished by some
outside party, But if the Journal assumes
the responsibility for these statements We
fear it has shouldered a heavy load As we
said. we sent the extract away, and did moi
have it before US when we wrote; nor has il
been returned to us. Consequently we could
not not then, nor can we now, specify" anC
specifically refute the statements of the ar
} ticle but no very high scientific attainment
. were necessary to enable one to see that thu
> writer was, as we said, ignorant Of miner
l alogy, geology, and chemistry Ii we re
D member correctly, there was III the article al
e unqualified statement that rock existed
a along the railroad, containing high per
: ceutage of phosphorc acid. Now the onl.
$ rock of that kind likely to be so found is tn
n mineral known as "apatite,' (of which cor
f respondent has something to say elsewhere il
}, this weeks FARNER.) 1t was our great in
r terest to know whether that mineral ha
t ever been found in Vermont, in workabl
,. quantities, which led us to send the piec
C from the JoarRal to geologst. But no'
e that hufy paper seems inclined to Sac
d water, and hedge on the only important Polr
Il in the matter. 1t says -
5, We repeat our statements in regard to tn
= rich mari deposits found along the line
! the new road, and found on the shores G
Is the ponds, in rocky forms, and ut the bottol
Al of the ponds, in the form of thin, white mn'
and containing large quantity Of lime. IN
D- only question Is in regard to its commerce.
H value and that can he asCertaincd by ana
ysis If it should be found to contain pho
phate of lime in larger proportion than ca
n. Donate it would be a very rich fertilizer, nm
would amply pay to transport to market.
n. What virtue there is in an "if! I'll
ms there is phosphate of line in that 9TH
,t white mud "-ah, "if r'-thea it would be
a. very rich fertilizer. Precisely. B
ne wouldn't il have been better to have procu
Id ed an analysis, before heralding the disco
Sc cry to the world That phosphate rocl
II. exists, SO far as any evidence is concerne
in entirely in the Journals imagination.
10 to the "thin white mud" it is too thin.
he very slight smattering of geology won
have told the editor that the likelihood
NO finding anything more valuable in it, as
h. fertilizer, than chalk, is infinitely small.
re, When we began to inquire into this mi
ed ter we did it in the hope that valual
ell discovery had been made, and with des
les to get a definite scientific statement IN
IN. gard to it. We had no idea Of hurting
ia. Journal editors sensitive feelings inde'
ost we were not thinking Of him at all,
Use bear him no ill-will albeit his conscicI
M seems to tell him that we ought to. But
Of mean to do our duty by our readers in
It'll gard to all such alleged discoveries, VIII
re, is, to keep them posted as to their real val
7th And if the editor Of the Journal has, as
now fear from his waspishness, been led
md his ignorance of scientific matters to max
lce pecuniary investment in this thing, we
by wise him to withdraw from it,, OF at least
ay. invest no more, until the real value Of
by alleged mineral deposit is thoroughly test
lie may rely equally upon the FARM
good word if it is a good thing, and upo
thorough exposure in our columns if any
tempt is made to play the "Lisbon"
un,oGoru oon,a unon tho Gnrmarg If