The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-12

Agriculture, has prepared, and is now send
ing out to the farmers OF the State, his Sc
cond report or letter as to the value of fer
tilzers for wheat, based upon careful analy-
ses made by Professor William H. Taylor,
State Assaver and Chemist. The report Is
one OF much interest, and is published be-
low in full. The analyses are required by
law, and were made, under DR.. Pollards
direction, by DR.. Taylor in the order in
which the samples were received. An
analyses of all the samples furnished DIR.
Taylor does not appear to-day, simply be-
cause it was impossible to publish the en-
tire list at one time. The few remaining
analyses will be printed in to-morrow'S
paper.
The report contains much valuable in
formation, and will no doubt be fully ap-
preciated by the intelligent farmers in Vir-
ginia:
OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,
RICHMOND, September 10, 1878.
The following table OF analysis has been
prepared, to be distributed among the farm
ers in advance Of my next annual report, as
some guide to the selection OF fertilizers for
wheat. 1t would have been sent out sooner,
but it was impossible to get the articles in
time for any earlier analysis, because the
manufacturers when first applied to IN
almost every instance stated that they had
not completed the preparation OF their fer
tilizers for the fall trade. Professor Taylor
has worked with great assiduity to get them
completed in time. The objection was
made last year that the samples for analysis
were not procured with sufficient care,
leaving the selection too much to the manu-
facturer. To obviate this I obtained this
year, either myself or through my clerk, sam
Dles Of the different fertilizers manufactured,
or having agencies in Richmond, by draw
ing from such bags rs we might select. Bal
timore is the centre OF the fertilizar-manu-
featuring business for Virginia, and very
considerable number OF fertilizers are sold
in Virginia from that point, without agen-
cies in the State | then repaired to Baltl-
more, and obtained samples from the manu-
facturers, who sold largely in this State,
drawing them directly from large quantities
in bulk. l also obtained sample from
GEORGETOWN, D. c., and one from Wlnches-
ter through third disinterested party.
Then, to prevent any suspicion OF bias
bv the chemist to the department, had the
analyses made by numbers, furnishing the
chemist with the number and retaining q
duplicate myself.
one fertilizer, Canton" of Seldner X
Sons, Of Baltimore, O sample OF which was
obtained from the agent here, analysed so
badly had determined to prohibit its sale
in the State, unless the party could show
cause why this should not be done, and ac-
cordingly summoned the manufacturers to
appear before me in my Office, according to
law provided in the case. They appeared
through their agent, who stated that there
must have been some mistake in the sample
furnished, and begged I would have an
other analysis made from sample drawn
directly from the mandatory in Bati-
more. I accordingly obtained another
sample from Baltimore through a third
dislntercsted party (Mr. George Savage,
secretary 10 the Mayor OF Batlmorel
This sample proved to be much better
by analysis. Mr.. Savage wrote me
that he obtained the sample with much care
from large bulk manufactured some time
before. He also stated that the MeSsrs.
Seldner stood we'll in Baltimore. I also
wrote to agents OF Messrs. Seldner-one in
Lynchburg, Messrs. Lee Il Co.; the other
in KeysyiIe, Va, Mr.. r. Fl. Gilliam-re'
garding the standing Of the fertilizer among
the farmers to whom they had sold. They
both replied that the farmers to whom they
had sold reported very favorably OF its cf
| fects, and were satisfied with it. Both
analyses OF "Canton" are published.
obtained from the agents here OF this ''Can
ton guano"a promise that they would sci
| in tho State no more OF the sample on hand
and have reason to believe this promise
has been kept.
have not attempted to state the CONNER
cial or the meney-value OF the fertilizers
that is, cannot say to the farmer this fer
tilizer is worth so much meney to you, and
thus influence him to buy it On my sips
dirit." The value OF a fertilizer is depen
dent on other things than the cost of the in
gradients, as the mode and Skill used II
combining them, the adaptation to partics
lar soils, mechanical condition, &c. (Se
this subject in my first annual report
have. however, given the commercial Valu
of the important ingredients, as near as
ran ascertain them, as follows: n''t
Available phosphoric acid.... l2h cents per pount
Ammonia. ...........'''.'''''' osntS per pponn,
! Potash cenls PEE pouii'
|, The soluble and precipitoted phosphor!
acid toqether make the avQila6le ,phoSphoIr,,
ccid, Some authorities put the lnsoluol
| l,phosphoric acid at four cents pouna, Do
this is doubtful, as it may be long lime
dissolving. .,
i Then, to calculate the Toney-yalue OF u
4 nhosphoric acid in fertilizer, add the soil
Bile and precipitated together, ana muitipl
that amount by 12s cents 1.-THE value Oh on
\ pound), which will give the value IN y
4 pounds, and this product by 20 ltwent
times 100 pounds makes 1900 pounds,