The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1875-02-26

interest would amount to as much
as the purchase money, and if it
takes fifteen years to make it avail
able, the interest with the purchase
money, amounts to more than the
valued of phosphoric acid in soluble
form. No intelligent farmer would
knowingly purchase a fertilizer, that
requires ten to twenty years to give
him a return for his money. The
loss by the use of such a manure is
not confined to the loss of the use of
the purchase money only, but in ad-
dition, the farmer loses his time and
the profitable use of his land, which
of itself involves many other loses.
Such inert substances should have
no place in high priced fertilizer.
| have extended this demonstra-
ton in order to show GARNER" how
he is deceived and cheated in pur-
chasing fertilizer, the analysis of
which he presents as specimen Of
fair and honest dealing. We may
presume that his selected specimen
is of the first class. Planters should
note this and be careful when mak>
ing purchases.
Farmer" charges me with being
unfair in visiting, as he says, a
wholesale condemnation upon the
fertilizer manufacturer. If Farmer
will point out commercial fertiliz-
er that has been put upon the mar
ket, and in the manufacture of
which, there has been neither fraud
or deception practiced, and has been
prepared with the planters interest
in view, and sold at a price that
planters can afford to pay, then there
will be one exception to the rule,
and Farmer will have conferred a
favor that will be inestimable TO the
planters.
If Farmer concludes that | am OPP
posed to fertilizers, he mistakes my
position. While | am exposing the
frauds and duplicity practiced by
manufactures and dealers, am not
opposed to fertilizers, not at all. !
believe that fertilizing by economic
means is the road to agricultural sue
cess, and that the deserved preju-
dices, that have been produced
against the use of commercial fertil-
zers may prove a national calamity.
1t is calculated that thirds of our
population are engaged in cultivating
the soil, and that three fOurths of the
capital of the country is invested in
farm lands and the stock and imple-
ments of husbandry. Then it is Of
momentous national interest that this
vast amount of labor and capital
should be adequately remunerated'
How is this to be done is the ques-
ton. | answer by an intelligent and
economical system of manuring.-
The general depression of the farm
ers 10 this country, who have so
freely used the commercial fertiliz-
ers sold in the market, is a practical
demonstration, that, that system, is
. no. only without economy, but has
proven in the main to be waste of
money. On this point, | will quote
from farmer correspondent of the
Rome Courier under the head of
"DoeS GuanO Pay ?"
He says: 81 think the above
proposition can be be truly answers
ed, in the negative. And although
this is the opinion of large MAORI
ty of our farmers, yet we continue
to use guano and follow the con-
demned system.
"Wo buy guano at from sixty to
seventy dollars. This manure we
put on our lands at a cost, every
thing included, of about $500 or
about $3.50 per acre. This of itself
is more than we can rent our best
lands at, on an average, and is as
much, as great deal OF it will sell
for.
at frequently happens that we
use those fertilizers, they prove to be
entirely worthless, either, because
they are put up on the swindling
idea; or the season makes them
So"
l will also quote from the report
of DIR. Thomas P. Jaynes, Commits
sioner Of Agriculture: ''It must be
admitted and with much regret that
our agriculture is languishing gener-
ally and that other causes than in
efficient and uncontrolled labor have
aided in producing this result. The
iniudicious use of high priced fer
tilizer has been fruitful source Of
loss and embarrassment and | re-
gard the motive which prompted
that indiscreet use and abuse, as
more to be deplored than any loss
which it has yet entailed.
These are only specimens of in
Vulnerable witnesses that will testify
to the correctness Of my proposition.
Prof. Vile, has perhaps very cor
rectly asserted that the supply Of
fertiliziug substances, that can be
accumulated in barn yard manure
and other waste products of the
farm is not sufficient to return to the
soil the amount that is exhausted by
crops, and that sterility, in time,
will be consequence.