Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-02
Uncertainties of Chemistry.

A correspondent of the Ncw England
Farmer takes up the matter of chemical
analysis, in general, and as applied by ex-
pertinent stations, and to chemical ferti-
lizers, in particular:
Your editorial. last week, on Analyz-
ing Fertilizers has, of course, been in
wardly digested. TO my mind, there is
no subject brought to-day before the farm
ing community more virtually important.
There is, perhaps, no subject that receives
greater attention on the part of writers, yet
| do not learn that any light has yet been
given of practical value to those farmers
who are without what is called " higher
education Probably ninety-fve per cent
of our New England farmers have receiv-
ed a simple education in reading, writing.
and the common rules of arithmetic only.
A knowledge of the simplest principles of
chemistry is wholly wanting, and, of
course, in making purchases of any chemi-
cal substance the farmer is entirely at the
mercy of another mind. You would have
that mind an experiment Station. Friend
Cheever, | think you are wrong. Your
experiment station would be directly OF
indirectly an additional tax on the acres
(already taxed to dealh) without giving a
sure return.
We wish to stop a minute right here
and ask, why the farmer who has a high.
e" education" and knows the " simplest
principles" and more too, of chemistry
is any better situated than his more icno.
rant brother, if even an experiment stu.
ton gives no sure return." And he goes
on to show further, why they give no sure
return:
There must be a chemist ut the head OIL
your institution at u comfortable salary
perhaps two or three paid assistants
Farmer Godfrey goes into market buys
! fifty dollars worth of chemical COMPOUND
adapted to oats. The substance is repre-.
sented, perhaps guaranteed, to contain, Ger
tain proportions of certain chemicals
Farmer Godfrey, on his way home, meet,
Il neighbor who states that he tried the
same fertilizer year ago with dishearten
ing results; in loss OF crop, loss of time
and loss of temper. Farmer Godfrey
thinks it Il good idea to take his paten
manure 10 your station and have it anayz
ed. The report of your chemist is writer
out covering, perhaps, four foolscap pages
each page covered with all the chemica
formula known to the books certifying
that the fertilizer is us represented. Mr.
Godfrey is well pleased at his own fore
thought for, reasons he, " this is might,
learned man, lie writes English SO that NJ
ordinary man can understand it, and hi
has got figures and letters to express die
tionary words"
Mr.. Godfrey plants and waits. The har
vest comes, but no oats. Why? Who is
10 tell the naked, honest fact to this farm
er? First-Was the chemists report re-
liable? Seconds the chemist compe
tent man? Third-Was the fertilizer de-
icient in one prime substance? | happier
to be engaged in a business that necessi
tates the use OF over eighty chemical com
pounds daily, costing from one dollar ar
ounce to one cent a pound; animal, mine
raj and vegetable substances in various
forms. Years of practical working have
made me familiar with those substance,
SO that l can tell by close inspection, ex
celt in rare instances, how the materials
will work, and what results to expect
Occasionally, call in the aid of u practi
cal chemist. About a year ago had oc
casion to send six gallons of "spent,' OF
used up liquid to chemist to find Out
the value, if any, of the coloring matter
left in the liquid. This gentleman had re.
ceived, as ! know, a first class college edu