The Portland daily press., 1879-04-29
AGRICULTURAL.
Domestic superphospha,es.

began to be largely used by farmers, or at
least after the good effects of those earlier
fertilizers had convinced farmers that they
could be profitably employed. in connection
with farmyard manures, much inquiry began
to be made in regafd TO the home manufacture
o! similar fertilizers to those that were pur-
chased at high cost. Farmers knew that
bones were valuable fertilizer, bat the pro-
cess OF reducing them, and of making them
into satisfactory manure for farm crops,
was another matter, and one not easy for ac-
complishment. On this account parties
were discouraged from attempting to 'bother''
with anything of the kind, aud were advised
to sell the old bones that were constantly
accumulating about the premises,to manure
manufacturers, and purchase of them the
completed article. But during the last ten or
dozen years great advances have been
made in knowledge of commercial fertili-
zers. the methods OF manipulation are better
understood, and many practical farmers are
coming to believe that, by little effort and
outlay. they may make good fertilizers at less
]. cost than is charged for the concentrated
maDures of commerce. And of late, closer
attention has been given to this matter
through the example and writings of DR..
James r. Nichols OF Haverhill, who states
that last Winter bis foreman prepared in the
floor OF his barn cellar, twelve tons of high
grade superphosphate 1.-THE most important of
all forms of plant tood), analyzing sixteen
per cent. OF soluble phosphoric acid. And
what this man has done, any farmer with
like intelligence can do also. D
First let Us look at the clements that en-
ter largely Into our superphosphaie. These
are phosphoric acid, nitrogen and potash, and
are termed essentials. OF course there are
minor elements about which we need not
trouble ourselves, and then great part OF all
vegel able structure comes from the air which
farmers obtain for nothing. Now the phos-
phorc acid In bones most be 1eDdert soluble
in water before it can become plant food, and
this is done by an application OF oil of vitrel,
which appropriates to itself the three parts of
lime OF whch'boDe are composed, forming
carbonate OF lime, leaving the one part of
phosphoric acid holding but one equivalent of
lime and two OF water; hence the solnbility
of this most valuable essential OF plant
growth. The great source OF phosphoric
acid Is bone or animal charcoal-bones
charred or changed into charcoal by intense
heat, by meaus of which the animal portion
or gluten is carbonized, aud the tough bony
structure destroyed. Nitrogen is only valua-
BILE 10 plants as it exists in some of its combl-
nations, as nitric acid, suphate of ammonia
or dried blood; and in some OF these CONNER
cial forms it mus. be obtained. Nitrate OF
soda contains 16 pounds OF nitrogen in 100
pounds OF salts suiphate of ammonia con-
tains the same amount, and dried blood con-
tains eight and half pounds in 100 pounds.
Potash is the prime element OF wood ashes,
but its best commercial form is in German
potash salts-a great article of commerce in
recent years--as kainite, and sulphate aud
muriate OF potash. In 100 pounds Of mnriate
OF potash 80 per cent. pure, are 80 pounds of
potash and in 100 pounds of kainite are IL
pounds of potash. These articles have their
price in market as Systematically regulated
as is the price oftea or Goldfish; and at pres
ent are about as follows: nitrogen, 25 cents
per pound: phosporic acid, 10 cents per
pound potash 5 cents per pound.
The above are the materials for the manu-
facture OF a domestic snperphosphate, which,
properly made. will equal that purchased in
the markets. In order to combine these ele-
ments large tank IS required-four feet
square and one foot deep. This tank must
be lined with sheet lead, in one piece, sol
dered at the corners with lead solder, as COM
mon tin solder will yield under the action OF
the acid. This tank will hold just one fourth
of ton of superphosphate, requiring for its
manipulation one carboy Q65 pounds) Of oil
of vitrjol; for this quantity with the vitriol
there will be needed $50 pounds of bone char
coal and ten gallons OF water. First put the
water into the tank, then the acid--the most
u
does not get upon ones clothes or person
and add the bone gradually, as it will pro-
duce great commotion aud dispel great
quantity OF steam and heat. Abundant space
must be given for the escape of this steam,
and if the mixture is made in the barn floor
or manure shed, doors and windows must be
opened.
But of course other combinations NAV be
produced OF the elements named. DR.. Mich
OILS says be has used upon his farm for wears
fertilizer composed of 40 pounds superphos.
phate OF lime, 25 pounds sulphate of ammo
mia, 25 pounds muriate of potash, 7 pounds
sulphate OF lime Gypsum or plaster), 5
pounds sulphate of magnesa-a total OF 100
pounds. or this 800 pounds per acre is used
as q first dressing, Or until the capacity of the
field becomes known. An excellent LIQUID
fertilizer, useful for flower beds, stra Wberries,
garden vegetables, cts. is made by dissolving
the following quantities in 100 gallons of
water Tor in the same proportions tor less
quantily): 16 pounds superphosphate, s
pounds rectified Peruvian guano, s pounds
mqriate Of potash, and one pound nitrate of
soda. By the above rule, at the present
price of materials, the cost OF the soluble
phospoIic acid in the domestic superphos-
phatez will not be far from seven and a half
cents per pound.
It is not too much to say that the above
method of domestic manufacture OF good
article Of superphosphate holds in it large
possibilities. 1t may not be advisable for ev-
cry farmer to engage IN its manufacture at
his own barn yard, but it is competent for
farmers to cooperate for the purpose of max
ing this fertilizer upon a scale sufficiently
large for 1.-THE wants of several neighbors,
placing its manufacture in the hands of
careful, intelligent man, who educates him.
selfin the buying of the elements and in their
proper manipulation. In buying, however.
purchase only OF trustworthy parties, and, ii
deemed best, require statement of purity of
the chemical salts. Remenber, moreover,
that is not to supersede farmyard manures
in the general cultural operations, bat only
to supplement- them, that increased returns
and profits may result. IL n
The Submerged SYSTEM of Milk Setting.