The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-04-22
Queries, Replies, Etc.


SUBSCRIBER, Cambridgeport, Mas
sachusetts, asks our "opinion as to the
value of material for fertilizing pur-
poses that has the following analysis:
Moisture, per cent. 416
Phosphoric acid per cent 6.52
Bone phosphate of lime, per cent............ li23
Nitrogen, per cent 667
Ammonia per SlO
Also its value compared with other fer
tilizers, what it is best adapted for, etc"
REPLY.-The above is a specimen of
the analyses often put forth by fertil-
izer makers, and affixed to their pack
ages, with no conceivable purpose other
than to deceive purchasers who are ig-
norant of chemistry The third and
the fifth items of the analysis are mere
repetitions in another form of the sec
ond and fourth items, and the true and
honest way of stating it would be:
Moisture per cent. 4l6
Phosphorc acid, per cent 652
Nitrogen, per 66'
The other items, if inserted at all, should
be stated thus: Bone phosphate of lime,
per cent 4.23, eqoiudlent to phosphoric
acid, per cent 6.52; and ammonia, per
cent $40, equivalent to nitrogen, per
cent 6.67. But as it is stated the
uniformed reader is Ono doubt pur-
posely) led to believe that this fertilizer
contains both phosphoric acid and phos-
phate of lime in the per centages named,
and the same in regard to nitrogen and
ammonia. A wise purchaser would
steer clear of manufacturer who thus
tried to mislead him.
But there are other matters in con-
nection with this analysis which need
explanation. Nothing is said about the
form and condition in which the phos-
phoric acid, or the nitrogen, exists in
this fertilizer The phosphoric acid
mag be in ground apatite rock, in South
Carolina phosphate rock, in ground
bone, or it mag be an acid phosphate.
In an honest analysis it is customary
to give the phosphoric acid under sep
arate items, as g soluble, " reverted"
and insoluble." In this fertilizer it
man be in the most insoluble form. As
to the nitrogen, it may be there in
ground leather, which is worthless for
plant-food, or it may be any one of a
dozen nitrogenous substances, of vary
ing or uncertain value.
Still further, even if made of the best
materials, in the most available condi-
ton, this is an incomplete and ill-bal-
anced fertilizer. 1t has no potash, and
the phosphoric acid and nitrogen are
not in the proper proportions for eco
nomical use The probabilities are
that it is fish or meat and bone fer.
tilizer-at least the proportions of the
analysis lead to such supposition. II
this is so, it ought to have added tC
each ton about half ton of plain acid
phosphate, and a quarter of ton OF
sulphate or muriate of potash. Thus
prepared assuming it to be really {
fish or a meat and bone fertilizer), il
would closely resemble the ordinary SUI
perphosphates sold in our markets.
Mr.. TIMOTHY WHEELER, Waterbury
Center, Vt, sends us the following
questions:
l. How would you start a grove o
maple trees? Would you sow the see(
in nursery first, and then transplant
or would you SOW where they are t.
eventually stand, or would you pull
the year-old seedlings in the forest ant
set them out?
2. Doyou think the Russian mulberr!
will prove profitable to raise for ,ooot
and fence-posts? l think you have then
on your grounds, and should like t.
hear results so far as you have reached
3. Have you any statistics to shoy
how much sugar was made in Vernon
Cor any other one of the New England
states) last year, or any other year o
the last eight years?
A. Why were there no maple seed
last year? There were none in thi
section, so far as have observed.
REILLY. We should prefer goo
nursery-grown trees of three to 81
years old, if the cost was not an in
superable objection. If we could nc
afford that, we would dig roadside seet
lings (not from the thick woods of tw
or three years old, set them in nurser
rows, and after growing them ther
two or three years transplant them
the permanent location, and we woul
never cut off the leading shoot.
2. The Russian mulberry is of II
more use in Vermont for the purpose
named than the common alder. 1t
hardly tree at all, but rather bi
bush-the most dwaif-growing of a
the mulberries, and useful, mostly,
produce food for slk-worms In ric
alluvial soils it may become tree.
3. No The production of cane-sug;
only is reported in the Census Report
or at least in the Compendium.
A. Most trees have their product,
MI