The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-18
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
ANALYSIS OF FE RTILIZERS.
Reason their Publication is Delayed.
LETTER FROM DIR. LEDOTX.

LETTER FROM DR.. LEDOUX.
Permit me to explain through your col
umns, why it is that the yearly analyses of
fertilizers are not all given to the public be-
fore the month of June. This has been
frequently noticed in the papers of late, and
[ trust that an explanation will be of interest
to your readers. The reason IS stnaDM be-
cause 1t IS not possible to obtain far, fresh
samples IN time to permit an coritcr connie
ton of the acO1H.
There are but three ways in which samples
can be obtained. One is by sending an
agent to the fertilizer factories, and having
him select specimens of the stock on hand.
Or, secondly, request the manufacturers to
send, in the fall or winter, samples of such
goods as they propose to sell in the spring.
The objections to these two plans are msur-
mountaJle. The expense of an agent would
be very great, as the factories are scattered
through every State from Massachusetts, to
sIBLE for half the manufacturers to furnish
samples of the good: they propose to sell IN
March or april, before February, or March
at the earliest. This is a fact, and it's cause
lies in methods of manufacture which | will
not take the time to explain. The Commits
sioner endeavored last winter to obtain SAM
pies for III by requesting the manufacturers
to send such as they intended to sell in the
spring, and, although some did send, the
majority wrote that it was impossible to fur
nish them, and the plan failed.
The last and safest method, although it
involves delay, is the one now employed.
AS soon as the years supply of fertilizers
begin to come into the State (the goods be-
ing fresh from the factories, and thus fair
representatives of each brandt an agent of
the Department goes through the State and
does not stop until he has obtained a sample
of each brand legally on sale. He started
this year about March 9th, and the last
sample was received by us in Chapel Hill on
May 5th.
The advantages of this plan are many. =
lst. The fertilizers are sampled after they
are beyond the reach of their makers.
End. The samples represent goods actual
ly on sale IN the State.
3rd. Instead of coming from one locality,
they are obtained from all over the State,
| and the manufacturers never know where
the years sample will be drawn.
The only disadvantage that this plan Of
| fers is that the analyses cannot all be com
pleted before the farmers have made their
| spring purchases. AS soon as the samples
come in all other analytical work is dropped,
and our whole time devoted to them. As
soon as one analysis is completed 1t is sent
to any farmer who has requested 1t, and also
furnished to any paper willing to publish 1t
With our present force it is not possible to
complete all the analyses before June, when
they are all printed in pamphlet form and
distributed. 1t would be best, J.n a0ere
possible, to call in extra help when the sam
pies come in, and finish the work at once
but chemists, especially chemists trained IN
the class of work required at the Station, are
not to be obtained like a carpenter or pam
ter, whom we simply have to send tor when
wanted.
Iregret our inability to publish the com
plete list of analyses sooner, and should be
sincerely glad if any one could suggest a
plan by which fair samples could be obtain
ed earlier. AS it is, a prospective purchaser
has this to guide him: he can compare the
standing of any one brand during three sue
cessive years, and note whether there has
| been any change for the better or worse, and
can feel sure, if there has been an improve
ment, that it was real, since the samples
come from lots actually on sale IN the state.
| For example let us take "Bradley's Super
phosphate as found in our table OF analy-
ses. We see that it's commercial value has
been as follows:
1877. 1873. 1872.
1874. 60. $50 90. $3S.54.
Comparing, in this way, we can get a very
good idea Of the probable value OF any one
brand which we wish to purchase.
Very respectfully,