Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-07

Number s,,........ l742 2l.o9 ~ 1870 IS
Mamher s...."..... 3.sl .s2f 81 1870 S4e4O
Numoer s........... l9.H 246 3.46 l4ql $40 %
NHHO'r lO'''.''''''' So'sl '''' ~ 1870 sSsS2
That the above scale Of prices is mani.
'fsssly too high is seen in the fact that in six
cfthe ten fertilizers analyzed these several con-
stituents are sold at prices considerably less
thnn their calculated value. But il will be
interesting to compare these results with the
oAIolisated values Of the vatious fertilizers
analysed in 1872, twenty-six in number, 10
estimating the value of which the same scale
Of prices was used
The average value, calculated from aualy-
ses Of the tweuty-six fertilizers anayzed in
1872, was s450l per ton, while the aver.
age value Of the ten whose analyses are
now given is $685., an increase within
three years Of thirty.three and One-third
per cent! Nor y this an exceptional case,
for, even in tn 2 wherever the fer.
tilaers sold ha Subjected to chemical
analysis from titss to time, it has been found
invariably true that the quality Of the fer
tilzers has steadily improved, the good grow.
ing better, and the comparatively worthless
having been driven out of the market. 1t
will also be observed that there is not poor
fertilizer among the entire number aualyzed
for though differing considerably in compO-
| atfian and vaiua No ona oc thar, IN
value falls far below the market price.
During the past few years our farmers
have learned that fertilizer must have 9th.
er recommendations to favor than its value
for securing knires," killing striped
bugs" making soft soap" OrH'aPplyiHg as
a pOaltice for poison 6y iUy.
There is, think, no one who, upon con-
sideration Of these results, will doubt the
wisdom Of the board of agriculture in hav-
ing taken this matter 10 hand; or who will
be disposed to question the statement Of Pro-
fessor Stoeckhardt of Saxony, one of the
leading agricultural chemist and one Of the
foremost practical agricuturists Of Europe,
who says: There can be no doubt that
American agriculturiss will arrive at satisfac-
tory results, like ourselves, in obtaining re-
liable fertilizers, by strictly adhering to the
chemical control adopted, and by providing
for chemistry what it needs for efficient
work. both oOnfdsnoe aud ample means"
Professor Samuel W. johnson, chemist of
the state board of agriculture Of Conuecti-
cut, in recent address said THE same
stupendous frauds by adul;eration and dilu-
tiou Of good things were practiced in Ger
many, and they have been, and, we have
reason to fear, still are, carried on here. But
the experiment station has perfectly cured
and rooted out these evils in all the districts
where il has been established. Now the
German farmer will buy no fertilizer without
an exact statement Of its composition, and
the fertilizer market in Saxony and Prussia
where the experiment station has the univer.
sal sanction and confidence Of the farmers,
is Just as settled and satisfactory az any
branch Of trade, and the farmers there buy
superphospbate, guauo, potash.salts, etc,
with as much security of fair dealing as We
can feel in the purchase of sugar or nails"
Professor W. o. Atwater, of Wesleyan
University, quotes leading Prussian man
ufacturer Of fertilizers as saying 81 con-
slider any system which grounds the hope of
security against imposition on any other
basis than that of actual chemical eramiaa.
tion Of the wares bought by parties working
in the interest of the buyer, as sheer non.
sense"
My own observations while at the exhib.
tion at Vienna, and the results Of very ex.
tended inquiry among the various manufac.
turers and dealers both in England and upon
the continent abundantly confirm the above
testimony, if confirmation were needed
An intelligent demand from the farmers of
Europe has filled their markets with a class
of fertilizers which, for real value, are, in
our own country, rarely ever approximated,
So soon as our people practically understand
that by calling an article fertilizer it is
not necessarily proved to be one; so soon
as they learn that it is for the soluble lhos-
phOric acid that they buy a superphosphAte
for the nitrogen that they buy fish scrap
and similar fertilizers; and for potash that
ashes are almost wholly valuable, then we
may expect to 6nd our manufacturers aud
dealers in commercial fertilizers competing
with each other, as is the case in Germany
aud England to-day, aud estimating their
wares, not at SO much per ton. but by the
amount Of these three constituents contained
From the first organization Of the Yer
mont state board of agriculture to the pres.
ent time this matter has received their care.
ful consideration, and the work already done
by them in protecting our farmers from fraud
Intentional or otherwise) has received the
cordial sympathy and support of our more
advanced farmers, as it has also the hearty
endorsement of those in other states laborIng
for the same end. PETER COLLIER.
Burlington, December 25.
r For the VERMONT FARMER.
Jersey Cattle.