The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-26
CoNaoNwEALTH OF VIRGINIA, }.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. . :

; Il
RICHMOND, September Is, 1879.
Below Is given the analyses OF thirty-three
commercial fertilizers and of two formulas
OF chemicals, fnrnished by Professor W. Fl.
Taylor, chemist 10 this Department, Some
other fertilizers gre Ia Professor Taylor's
hands for analysis, which will be published
in my third annual report. = = ;.
! It was deemed best to send these analyses
out now as some guide to the farmer in the
selection OF fertilizers for wheat. They
would have been pubiishe dearlier, but the
man uiacturers, in most instances, did not
have theirTbrandsi flor their fall trade ready
for analysis earlier, and consequently they
were crowded upon the chemist very near
together - s7------------~~--
/. The funds sjappropriated7ito sustain the
Department are net sufficient to authorize
an analysis OF all the fertilizers sold in the
State. The, act establishing the Department
requires the Commissioaerto to analyze " such
guanos and fertiLiseys as he may deem OF
IMPORTANCE" This, Of course, gives me q
discretion in their.seIection. Still there are
Others I deemed tfof importance" and
should have had the analysis made il the
funds at my disposal were sufficient. There
biss however. eopside able list Arom. ~hicn
to make selection and, rs stated, others
will be furnished in my next report, which
will be published towards the close OF the
year. Were to attempt an analysis OF all
the fertilizers sold in the State, Il should be
forced to neglect other important objects
contemplated by :theuact creating this De
partmept. ',s.. %a.y-5.>-. .yl-oaE.. - .@U.
The prices are. only partially furnished,
the manufacturers failing TO send prices
with the samples. These can bereadily OBJ
fntf1
agents. With but one exception manufac-
turers Of fertilizers have readily furnished
their samples, seeming to prefer au analysis,
with view of setting forth the goodness
of their articles. no.. l.4s -a4,
The prices of the important constituents
or fertilizers are about as follows;
Available phosphoric acid Soluble and
preclpltdtedl.. ....................... 10 cents.
huiionla.. lS cents.
cents.
Since my last report the price of potash
and phosphoric acid has been reduced.
AS have said, the value of q fertilizer is
dependent on other things than the cost OF
the ingredients, as the mode and skill used
in combining them, the adaptation to par
ticular soils, mechanical condition, &c., so
that the commercial and agricultural value
of fertilizer do not correspond in many
instances. The commercial value can be as.
certained by multiplying the percentage Of
each of the constituents by the cost per
pound-taking the percentage as pounds.
Thus, to calculate the money-yalue OF the
phosporic acid in q fertilizer, add the solu-
BILE and precipiLated together, aud multiply
that amount by ten cents Qhe value OF one
pound), which will give the value in one
hundred pounds; and this" product by
twenty twenty times one hundred pounds
make two thousand pounds, or one tom,
and we have the cost Of available phospho-
ric acid In ton; and 80 of the cost of am
monia and potash. ..-. ~ .......
The samples for analyses were procured
bv visiting the manufacturers and drawing
them myself. In few cases, where the
brands were not ready for market. the sam
Piles were obtained by disinterested THIRD
parties.
The analyses were made by numbers, the
chemist being ignorant Of the brand ant
what was claimed. THOMAS POLLARD.
Commissioner OF Agriculture.
| The table referred to above we omit, be
cause, as stated. many brands sold In Vtr
tgInia are omitted.