The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-26
For the TarIn.r ana Meehsni.
The Trade in Fertilizers.
y. {. AGRICULTURAL EXPERI-
NEXT SrATIDN
RALEIGH, Jan. Is. 80

:
Z A little over SIS 600 tons of fertilizer
we're sold in North Carolina last year
The returns are not all in. but il is evi
, dent that there are was considerabl
, increase In the sales over the year be
, tore, In spite Uf the difficulties in trans
: portation last spring, which prevented
many farmers from getting all they want
ed. The average cash price of the
simple acid phosphate was $50 so. Tn,
average cash price ot the ammoniateC
phosphate was S40.4O. The average
cash price of all kinds was, therefore,
800 % per ton. SuppO.lng cash had
been paid for the So, 600 tons. the totaI
amount paid by out farmers for iertili-
zers would have been three million,
twenty-one thousand, seven hundred
and fifty dollars. Since, however, about
twice as much amoGiated goods were
sold as acid phosphates, the III ore cor
| rect cash value of fertilizers bought b.
our people would b We been about three
million, two hundred thousand dollars
But how many farmers pad cash for
their fertilizers? As far a, | can as
certain hardly one.tenth OF them. In
the cotton country not One-l went eth OF
them. Deducting one tenth, though,
paid for In cash, we have Sc, enty sig
thousand and five hundred tons paid
tor at the rate Of 425 lbs. Of middiing
cotton III NOytmber for ammoniated
phCsphates and 800 lbs. for acid phos-
pilates, at l. CTS. per h., ;his is $S3 90
tor the acid phosphate and $40 IS for
the ammonlated phosphates per ton.
oupposlng that the tobacco men pay for
time at the same rate as the cotton men,
we have three million, two hundred
and sl1tyhve thousand dollars as the
round rum paid by the nine tenth. who
buy on the credit system.
Or, adding the amount paid by the
one-tenth cash men, we nave the grand
total paid by the State for fertilizers as
about three million, six hundred thous-
and dollars.
Thus tor SIX months time upon Iur.
chases, worth three million, two hun
dred thousand dollars last May, or
farmers paid four hundred thousand
oolIar.; which IS equal to an interest OF
ings of the credit system pursued b.
our farmers throughout the whole coun
try. The great majority Of them get
everything they buy from their com
mission merchants upon about the sam
terms During the summer, when
bacon is worth 9 cts. a pound, they get
t from their commission merchants tor
pound of cotton in the fall. 1t is not
surprising that many go down under
his system, mortgage first their crops,
and then their lands, until finally they
become the vassals of their me:chan S
upon the land, which they them
selves once owned. It is rather to be
wondered at that SO many proper ander
such a system 1t is prosperous
agriculture, indeed, that Can sustain
such drain.
Although | believe that the use Of
good superposphate upon our staples,
cotton aud tobacco, lsproyen to be emil
nenty advantageous, let one lmplore
farmers not to be tempted by this pos
sibllity Of gain to buy more of them
than they can certainly and easily pay
for, In the event OF a poor crop. Let
them rather buy just what they can pay
cash for, direct from the manufacturers,
and thus save dealers profits. Some
manufacturers, who pay the State tax
and submit their goods to examination,
specially solicit such trade. Let them
utilize further every available home
material and make their own manure,
straw, etc, are carefully husbanded,
they will be found to 90 long way.
These with acid phosphate and kainite,
white are still reasonably cheap, will
reasonably cheap, will make excellent
composte. / will give some illustra
tions of excellent home made fertilizers
in late Bulletin.
CHAs. w. DABNEY, JR.
Director