Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
Fertilizers.


ents of principal commercial value are nitro
gen, phosphate of lime aud potash. The |
difference in form, combination and mechan-
ical condition in which these substances are |
found greatly affects their value. The
present method Of analyzing fertilizers recog- |
nizes these distinctions only in regard to
phosphate of lime and the values founded
upon these analyses are altogether false and
erroneous. In regard to nitrogen, the most
costly, we are not informed as to the amount
of soluble or nsoluble, but it is usually stated
as organic substance yielding ammonia"
but we are left in Ignorance as to when
these changes take place in the soil. As to
the other constituents contained in fertil-
izers, no mention is made of them, as if
they were valueless, although they usually
comprise nine-tenths of the whole weight,
and are of value. When giving an analysis,
the whole should be given, with the form
and condition in which they exist. Then
it will be known what the fertilizer is COM
posed of, and an estimate of its agricultural
as well as its commercial value can be found
otherwise, by the present methods, which do
not recognize these distinctions, the conclu-
sions drawn from them are uncertain, unre-
liable and of questionable value. fertil-
izer can be made containing every element
of plant food in abundance, and yet be prac-
tically worthless The potash of feldspar,
the phosphoric acid of massive apatite, and
the nitrogen of leather scraps, are nearly in
nutritious for crops, because they are locked
up in insoluble combinations. In CONNER
cial fertilizers the nitrogen is estimated at
from fifteen to twenty-five cents pound.
This is the commercial value, for the reason
that it cannot be obtained in a form suit
able for commercial purposes for less than
that but it can be obtained in the form of
fish scrap, dried blood and meat scraps, at
about ten cents pound. The agricultural
value is quite another thing, and it should
not be estimated at higher rate than it
can be produced for in an agricultural form.
Peat contains two and half per cent Of
nitrogen, and there are but few farms which
have not an abundance of it on them or in
their vicinity. As it is dug out its nitro
gen is locked up in insoluble combinations,
but by composing the peat with any alkali
(soda ash aud wood ashes at the present
time are the cheapesD in sufficient quantity
to neutralize its acid properties, will render
it soluble, and fit it for food for plants at a
cost of about two cents pound for nitro
gen, as is well explained in "Dana's Muck
Manual" 1t is a well recognized fact, that,
next to temperature, the water supply is the
most influential factor in the product of a
crop. Poor soils give good crops in seasons
of plentiful and well-distributed rains, or
when skillfully irrigated; but insufficient
moisture in the soil is an evil that no sup
plies of plant food can neutralize.
Peat properly composted with an alkali is
great absorber Of moisture. 1t tends to
keep the soil moist even in times of drouth
and as it decomposes it gives off carbonic
acid gas, apowerful solvent Of the soil, thus
liberating and rendering soluble other ele-
ments Of plant food to nourish the growing
Academy of Agriculture at Thorend Ger
many), in his chemical field lectures says
"If farmer desires that manure mel
with in commerce should undergo examina-
tion, he will act wisely in proposing to the
chemist who is to institute the analysis the
following questions First what quantity
] does it contain in one hundred parts of nit
rogen Second, what quantity does it con
, tain in one hundred parts of organic mat
ter2 Third, what quantity does it contain
} in one hundred parts of salts of potash
/ Fourth, what quantity does it contain in ON
, hundred parts Of salts of sodaY Fifth
= what quantity does it contain in one hun
, dred parts of phosphate of lime Sixth
@ what quantity does it contain in one hun
dred parts of gypsum2 Seventh, whs
, quantity does it contain in one hundre
!. parts of carbonate OF lime in connection
9 with magnesia2 Then ask, In what com
l. bination is the nitrogen principally pre'
q ent As an ammoniacal salt ? AS nitri
t, acid salt As an organic substance Of cas-,
/ or of difficult, decay2 BY the reply to tn
5, first inquiry, he is placed in position to ca
d culate the approximate value in money c
the manure in question, whilst from tn
subsequent answers he acquires tolerabl
10 certain information as TO the slow or rapi
T. action that may be anticipated from its use
1t In the Massachusetts, Agricultural Repol
p of 1875 and '7G, page three hundred sixt
k four, in Professor Goessman's report as sta
T. inspector of fertilizers, he says "Agricu
le tural chemists distinguish very properly
le tween actual and potential ammonia Il
cs latter refers to the ammonia which, in Il
ic course of time, will result from the decor
H. position of the organic matter containir
y, nitrogen. In some instances this happel
ns very rapidly; in others it requires month
and even years, To bring out the full amou