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

Of nitrogen for action. Our dealers in fer
tilizers have not yet been seriously asked to
recognize the great difference which exists
between the value of nitrogen in the form
of ammonia compounds, guano, meat, fish,
blood, ETC., and in that Of hair, horn, wooen
refuse, leather scraps, ETC., although in the
form Of the latter it is scarcely worth one
half the amount of the former" For the
farmers interest, is IL not time the question
should be seriously asked, and not only asked,
but answered. On page three hundred
sixty-seven he says: " Fertilizer dealers are
charging thirty cents pound for nitrogen
without reference to the form in which 1t is
present" In report of 1S76-77, page two
hundred fifty-eight, he says "The phos-
phoric acid in the bones, steamed and raw,
is valued according TO the mechanical con-
dition of the bone after grinding the same
rule applies with equal force to Che valua-
tions of the nitrogen in their nitrogenous
matter" On page three hundred eighty
two (report of lS74-75) he says "The most
important information which the farmer
needs, to secure to himself the full agricul-
tural value Of any commercial value offered
for sale, consists in knowing the exact kind,
the amount, and the chemical and physical
condition of the essential articles Of plant
food it contains; without this, fational
system of manurng becomes impossible" /"
As the laws in regard to fertilizers do not
require this information TO be given, OF
what value are the laws, except possibly to
mislead Same report, page three hun
dred eighty-one, he says Manufacturers
Of fertilizers ought to take into considera-
ton that the articles they offer for sale have
not only commercial value, but also pc.
culiar agricultural value, and that the latter
is independent of the former, for both are
determined by quite different standard
The commercial value depends here, as vel
as elsewhere, on the relation Of demand and
supply in the market, and is controlled by
competition. The agricultural value de
pends on its peculiar crop-producing capac
ity, and is determined by the judicious ap
plication of the farmer. A shovelful o.
lime may do more good under certain cir
cumstances than several times its weight o
more costly dried blood"
How long will it be before farmers hav
laws framed and passed in their interest
Not till they bestir themselves and look Il
their interests ("Who would be free them
selves must strike the blow y, and not leav
legislatures, through ignorance, or design
on the part of few, to pass laws for
favored few at the expense of the many. |
is time the subject was understood and yer
tilated, and until it is the manufacturers @
fertilizers will coin money by the sweat @
the farmers brow. Farmers ask no prote'
tion at the hands of the general government
neither should they be made to pay dutie
on phosphates or superphosphates, ammoni
salts, potash salts, and nitrates. These, t
them, are the raw materials from whic
they manufacture or grow their crops. Thi
is one step to be taken; another is to hay
the laws in relation to the analysis Of fe
tilizers so made that they shall state tn
exact kind, the amount, and the chemici
and physical condition of the articles {
plant-food they contain. Without this
rational system of manuring becomes in
possible, and manuring, in New Englan
particularly, is the most important questio
the farmer has to grapple with.
ANDREW ii. WARD, Bridgewater, Mass.