The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-12
farNyers' CulnlNn,
Speed the g'Soar."


the purity of the fertilizers which are pre-
pared for their use, by the manufacturers
thereof and, which arc only to be had at
comparatively very high price.
We find well timed and practical arti-
Gle on this subject in the agricultural col
umn of the Baltimore Weekly San, which
we think quite worthy of being given in
full in our Farmers Column"
While we consider it an obligation that
the farmer owes to himself, as well as to
the community, to utilize everything on
his premises that can possibly be made in
to manure, thus benefitting himself by the
direct return which will he made to him
from the Increased crop to which the ma
nure may be applied, and at the same time
adding to the health of his family, and
necessarily to the prevention of the crca-
ton and dissemination Of disease by not
permitting organic matter to purify and
| decay, but by proper composture and adj
mixture with absorbents and disinlectants
becomes valuable and economical agent
in the improvement of the land, still as but
few farmers can command home resources
sufficient for the manuring of the land
they desire to crop, many are compelled to
rely upon commercial fertilizers to supply
the deficiency. For several years the diff
ferent kinds Of guano were the principal
articles used, particularly the Peruvian
and immense sums were expended by the
farmers of Maryland in It's purchase and,
when iudiciously applied, it proved to he
most valuable agent, but in many in
stances Its use was attended with great ul-
innate loss. Farmers keeping up n con-
slant cropping, relying on it exclusively,
neglecting almost entirely the making and
application of home mAnures, the natural
result was that the soil became exhausted
of its most valuable constituents, and final
| ly the greatest and most abundant crop
which was produced was n lnxuliant
growth Of "sorrel.' At first the Peruvian
guano vas obtained without adutcratinn,
but as the demand increased there is
scarcely Il doubt but what great frauds
were perpetrated by dishonest dealers. At
present but little Peruvian guano is used
alone, but large quantities are worked up
III the manufacture, or rather arc mixed
with the super-phoSphate
Super phosphate or bi-phOsphate Of lime
is now the most extensively used CONNER
cial fertilizer, and generally combined with
guano for the purpose OF ntfording q GER
tain quantity of ammonia. 1t has become
one of the largest items in our seaboard
trade from Maine to New Orleans, and our
own city of Baltimore is, we presume, the
largest exporter ofsuper phosphates in the
United States, and we believe and trust
that our faith is well founded, that our
manufacturers make valuable article and
one that will stand the closest scrutiny :"
but in view Of the fact that there is no man.
ufactured article on which great frauds
can be so easily committed as in the pro-
duction of commercial fertilizers, we
would suggest to some of our principal
manufacturers of fertilizers that they adopt
the German system OF dispoaing of their
manures, and that is not by the hundred
weight or ton, but by its toaaTanted con-
tents OF heterogeneous matter or ammonia,
its solids, phosphates and its potash; and
then we further sugge the State shall es.
tablish chemical laboratories in which both
manufacturer and consumer can have fer
tilizers analysed at reasonable ey-
pense.
We arc told that as 8 general thing, I'M
der this system, German farmers procure q
much better article than we 10 and at low
er average prices. No doubt some of our
fertilizers are as valuable and furnished at
as low prices as III Germany or elsewhcrc
but that an immense amount of trash is
sold and at high prices is Just as certain
BY adopting this German system the honest
manufacturer has nothing to lose and every
thing to gain, and Ey tour farmers have the
satisfaction of knowing that they are only
paying for what is valuable, (and we all
know what qualification it is for one to
feel assured that he Ii getting the worth of
his money! and not be so thoroughly
llceced as they now are, unless they have
the good fortune to get hold of an honest.
ly manufactured article in the purchase of
their fertilizers.
In an adjoining county, at u late term of
its.Circuit Court,a case was decided against
u farmer who resisted the payment of q
bill for a lot Of super phosphate manufac-
tured i'll Pennsylvania, which, by bis own
as well us the evidence Of others, was ut.
terly worthless; but it Was in proof that
the merchant from whom he purchased,
and agent OF the manufacturer, had told
him beforehand that he knew nothing of
the article; that it hau been sent to him for
sale, and if he bought it must be at his
placed confidence WAS his having to pay,
including costs, something like $500, for
which it may hc sand he had nothing in
return.
THIS matter OF proper protection for the
farmer against fraud i'll the manufacture of
commercial fertilizers is one Of the most
vital Importance, and 1t Is one which shall
claim our most earnest consideration. No
class OF the community are more entitled
to have every guard thrown around them
in preventing their being made the victims
of dishonest manufacturers, not alone on
their own account, but that Of the commu-
nifty ut large, than those engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. IL is not only most dis
astrous to the farmer individually, if after
stinting himself in many things often alb
solutely necessary Tor his comfort, SO that
he may have the necessary funds to pur-
chase u few tons of some of the different
fertilizers, he finds that he has been shame
fully deceived, and might have applied
tie same quantity OF elirt for all the bcne.
fit his lands or crops had received from
the application, but 1t is also an injury to
the community that The crop was not in
creased and the land improved, for no one
can deny that the larger the crop the far
mer may grow, and the more his land is
improved, so us to continue producing in
creased crops, the better it is for every
other interest dependent as all are upon
the farmer for their bread, meat and raj
ment.
In addition to the above, we will state
that a few days ago, We noticed in the San
a statement IN its locals Of "The Trade of
Baltimore in Phosphates," in which it
gives the amount of material imported, and
used by the man ulacturcrs OF super.phos.