Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-28

or on an average twenty-eight per cent less
value than price charged, and these valua-
tions give the manufacturer from forty to
fifty per cent profit on the articles they use.
In circular No. so of the commissioner of
agriculture of Georgia is the analysis of
various fertilizars-75, ,S24 tons in all-sold
in Georgia in 1877, and prices Of each brand,
some l26 in all. The average commercial
value is forty to fifty per cent above the
wholesale prices of the articles used in man.
ufacturing them. The average cash price
on rs 1924 tons sold was 20 25 per ton more
than its commercial value, amounting to
$72l ,9i4 l8, and this commercial value !"
allowed TO the manufacturers profit of
from forty to fifty per cent on the articles
they used.
CAN FARMERS PAY THEs4 ExoRBITANT
PRICES AND LIvEf
Can they use fertilizers to advantage TO
themselves at these valuations At the
prices they pay they may get new dollar
for an old one, taking the risk, while the
manufacturer Of fertilizers reaps the gain.
The manufacturers of fertilizers could not
have devised sbrewder plan to keep up
the prices of fertilizers and enhance their
profits than that adopted by the state in
spectors of fertilizers, substituting fictitious
for market values Of the articles used in
making commercial fertilizers, and then
valuing the product on the basis OF these
| fictitious prices, and calling it the CONNER
| cial value because many are induced to pay
these prices from relying upon the state in
spectors of fertilizers TO inform them of
their composition and value. Professor
| Stockhardt of the Royal Academy of Agri-
culture, at Thorend, Germany, in his chemi
cal field lectures, says If farmer desires
that manure met with in commerce should
undergo examination, he will act wisely in
proposing 10 the chemist who is to institute
the analysis the following questions First,
what quantity does 1t contain in 100 parts
Of the nitrogen Second, what quantity
does it contain in 100 parts of organic mat.
teri Third, what quantity does it contain
in 100 parts OF salts Of potash Fourth,
what quantity does it contain in 100 parts
of salts of soda 7 Fifth, what quantity does
it contain in 100 parts of phosphate lime
Sixth, what quantity does it contain In loo
parts of gypsum Seventh, what quantity
does 1t contain in 100 parts OF carbonate OF
lime with msgnesia Then ask in wha,
composition is the nitrogen principally pres
ent as an ammoniacal salt as nitric
acid salt as an organic substance OF easy
or difficult decay BY the reply TO the first
inquiry he is placed in position to cslcu'
late the approximate value In money OF the
manure in question, whilst from the subse
quent answers he acquires tolerably certain
information as 10 the slow or rapid action
that may be anticipated from its use.
These quotations FROM Professor Goesmann
and others, all recognized authority, show
the utter worthlessness of the law in regard
to fertilizers 10 aid the farmer to knowl
edge Of the money value Of the article he
buys or of its cropproducing capacity. The
present law misleads, is not complied with
aud but partially executed, and benefits nc
one, either manufacturer or consumer. The
law requires the label on the package shall
state the percentage of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash, but it is done with 30 large
a latitude that practically it is of no value
for IT 10 possible to guess az near as the la
bells state. 2 to . per cent ammonia, to
per cent OF phosphoric acid, to 10 per cent
potash. Could any other articles be sold IL
this way, and 10 any one but farmers
Many other articles are sold by analysis
Who would buy any of the mineral ores Oh
basis 80 wide M 2 TO per cent, yaria
tion of fifty per cent? Who could sell ol
who would buy other merchandise in thii
way