The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-10

soft coal which is converted into gas;
but there runs along with it large de-
post of liquor which the manufactures
gathers, and from which he manufac-
lures sulphate of ammonia, which is
another valuable source of nitrogen. !
The SHOEMAKER, who is manipulating |
his iron ore, throws into his great re-
torts of molten iron quicklime, which |
Immediately combines with the phos-
phorus in the iron and forms Stag |
which contains fifteen to twenty per
cent of phosphoric acid, and comes to
the manufacturer of fertilizers in large
Jumps and nodules, requiring to be
ground and treated with sulphuric acid
in order to be made available"
In reference to the home manufac-
ture and the cost of fertilizers, Mr..
Bowker said: "The mixing of the pre-
pared materials can be done at home,
! but if it is done on a large scale, at the
rate of one hundred or two hundred
tons day, it requires large buildings
suitably arranged with elevators, bins,
mills and mixers. This process can be
stopped half way, and the ground phos-
phate, dissolved bone, chemicals or
dried blood can be shipped to the
farmer, and he can mix them at home;
but this is not the manufacture of fertil-
izers. 1t is but the last and easiest
stage in a long series which require an
extensive and expensive plant, and the
employment of skill and large capital
for its economical accomplishment. 1t
is safe to say that the crude materials
as they are received require to be
handled at least six or seven times
before the finished product is placed
upon the cars for shipment, and
you must remember that ton of
fertilizer, or of fertilizng material is
Just as heavy to handle in fer
tilizer factory as on the farm. Whether
you can mix the half-prepared chemi-
calls so that they will be as evenly COM
bined and as carefully distributed over
your field, is question for you to
consider.
{" 1t must also be borne in mind that
if the chemicals and prepared materials
are bought unmiXed, cash must be paid
for them-and | wish the cash system
of buying fertilizers could be adopted
throughout the country. We were gath
ering together materials last June, July
and August, and all through the sum-
mer and fall, which we are now manu-
featuring into fertilizers, and which
will be shipped into Vermont and other
states this spring. We shall not get
our pay for this fertilizer until next
fall, or from twelve to eighteen months
after the first material is put into the
factory. This is all wrong, but it is the
custom of the trade. Interest accrues,
and interest is as much part of the
cost as the material, and must be added
into the cost of the fertilizer. Then,
too, there is an elem ent of risk as well
as large shrinkage, which are items
to be counted in. On the other hand,
chemicals are sold free on board the
cars, and the purchaser pays the freight.
In the case of mixed goods, the manu-
facturer delivers them to almost every
station throughout the Eastern States,
which averages to add three dollars
more to the cost. He is also obliged to
pay commissions to agents. If he at
tempted to supply the trade, shipping
to each individual farmer, the business
could not be done, because farmers as
a class will not order until the last mo-
ment, and to ship out the whole years
product of fertilizer factory in thirty
to sixty days in spring would be impos-
,. sible; hence, the manufacturer is
obliged to ship ahead, and place in
store-houses and in the hands of agents
for distribution. Perhaps the time will
come when all this will be changed and
the consumer and the producer brought
, directly together. AS for one, shall
welcome any change which will bring
the business nearer a cash basis"