Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-01


anil zed In most cases IL occurs as
nitrogen in organic matters; now,
this organic nitrogen iD bones, blood,
meat, etc, is readily converted into
ammonia and Is hence an extremely
valuable component Of fertilizers, but
nitrogen IN hair and leather is not
nearly SO dUaitdbIe and hence Is not
30 valuable, unless the materials are
very finely ground, or IN some other
way made more easily decomppsable.
Careful examination of IA fertilizer
will generally suffice To indicate in
which of these forms the nitrogen is
Present and thus serve as a guide in
to.nparing values.
A word as 10 The valuation Of the
fertilizers given 10 the reports. These
represent not always the actual value,
10 The farmer M any girem locatity, but
the sum OF the commercial rdiaes Of the
several ingredients shown by tie
anal ) sis To he present in the sample,
or in other words, what the same
amount Of fertilizing elements would
cOst taking the usual value Of such
articles bought in the crude state in
which they are found in fertilizers.
and in the long run the agricultural
value will regulate, and hence fairly
compare with the commercial value.
Taking then the above points into
consideration and combining with the
knowledge Of the analysis a careful
examination Of the fertilizer, the
farmer is prepared TO judge what is
the best article for the money at the
place he is buying. To determine,
however, which is the best for his
land, needs knowledge of the char
acter and wants Of his soil and crop.
these can be learned only by CAREFUL
and intelligent study. The u,e of
fertilizers must be 10 supply the in
gradients heeded by the soil, and this
the analyses enables any one TO do
intelligently.
4 word as 10 the "Soluble and Re-
yerted Phosphoric acid" Of the analy-
ses. This refers TO the phOsphoric
acid which is soluble In water, and
also To tue further amount which is
soluble IN 4 strong solution OF Citrate
of Ammonium, this solvent having
the power OF dissolving such phos-
phate as has, by standing, been con-
verted To a slightly less soluble form
than that dissolved by water, this Is
on most soils nearly as valuable as
that which is freely dissolved 10y Wa
ter, and hence IN the State Board re-
ports is classified with such, as imme-
diatel y available phosphoric acid.
One word further as 10 the scope OF
the State law. From what has pre-
ceded it 10 clear that The law Is not
intended 10 reject fertilizers for the
turner's, which IL certainly should not
10, but to guarantee them against
fraud, To prevent sdulterstion, 10y re-
quifing any brand Of fertilizer To
contain j,i1t Whdi II claims TO contuin,
so that no manufacturer or dealer
shall make n compound, advertise it
as containing such and such percent
ages of valuable material, aud then
sell IL mixed With earth or moisture
enough ~ reduce the value below his
claims. All the analyses are made
on the sample as il is found in trade,
not dried. This is important, be-
cause water can be introduced to
some ,sxtent by exposure to damp or
oEhefsise, without any apparent IN
tsntion 10 defraud. However TO the
consumer it makes little difference.
whether he pays for useless dirt or
useless water, 10 either case he gets
lees actual fertilizer than the weight
shows should be present, and buys an
adulterated article--so that moisture
is one of the adulLerants which the
analses would reveal.
| have written this brief note at
the suggestion OF the Secretary of
the State Board In order to show the
understanding with which the anal
yses we're made and TO perhaps make
their usc a little more directly evi.
dent TO the farmers buying fertilizers.