The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-23
Bulletin No. 13.

ports an experiment IN cutting ana
planting potatoes by c. W. Minot, hor-
ticulturist of the Station, and a series
of fertilizer analyses. OF the potato
experiment, it will perhaps be enough
to to say that it was not begun until
June 23--with potatoes which had
sprouted in the cellar to the length of
three to five inches. The vines were
eighty frosted September ., and killed
September 3d. The variety used was the
Pecan, and the object was to try four
teen different methods of cutting and
planting. Fourteen rows fifty feet long
and three feet apart were planted, with
seed from large whole tubers, down to
single-eyes halved. There were some
differences as regards the seed in other
respects, and also in cultivation. OF
the fourteen rows, six did not all come
up, and in one row not half came up. 1t
is needless to add that the results were
quite inconclusive, and the experiment,
for all practical purposes, failure.
One may well ask, Why print it?"
This Bulletin also contains thirty-siX
fertilizer analyses, covering the princi-
pal makes and brands sold in the state.
Professor Cooke states that the average
quality of the fertilizers sold in 1888
was so much better, and the average
price so much less than in 1885, that
there was net gain per ton to the
farmer of 1924, or twenty-one per
cent. Noting this fact, the report says:
"There can be little doubt that the
work of the Station in making the tests
and circulating the results broadcast
over the state has been a powerful
factor in this favorable result" This is
true to some extent, as it was essential
that we should have such analyses
made to prevent Vermont from being
flooded with poor fertilizers, made es
pecially for sale within her borders.
But as this increase in value and reduc-
ton of price is general throughout
New England, our Station can hardly
claim more than concurrent influence
in that direction. The truth is that the
agricultural press, by disseminating a
knowledge of the composition and value
of fertilizers, and of the chemical
and agricultural facts related to their
use, has made our reading farmers
more vigilant, and much better judges
of the practical value of such manures.
The proof of this is seen in the fact
that few manufacturers think it worth
while to send low-grade goods into this
state; and the bulk of the trade is in
the hands of the four or five concerns
which make the best goods Never
theless, it remains true that there is
still gap, on the average, to the dis
advantage of the farmer, of 1913 per
ton between the retail price of the ma
terials of these fertilizers and the re-
tail price of the fertilizers themselves.
This margin is claimed to be necessary
TO cover the costs incurred between the
makers and the consumers, made up
mainly of advertising, freight, commits
sions and interest-the latter, in great
part, being on the credit granted to
farmers. The worst thing about this
system is that so few farmers pay cash
that all have to pay the credit price, as
all the business has to be done through
local agents. Were the farmers ready
to-day, as class, to buy their fertil-
izers for net cash, taking the goods
from the cars in January, February
and March, while the roads are good
and the time convenient to get them
home, they could buy their fertilizers
on the average four dollars per ton
cheaper than they now get them. In
order to do this, they would have to
buy by the carload and pay the money
when the goods are delivered. Pro-
fessor Cooke estimates the gain result
ing to the farmers from the supervision
of the Station at 1924 per ton-that is,
the quality of the goods has improved
and the price diminished, since 1885, to
that extent. But this saving could be
increased at least four dollars per ton
simply by making it cash business
that is, our "shrewd Vermont farm
ers" q y pay over ten per cent for
about four months credit on their pur-
chased manure, or at the rate of nearly
thirty-three per cent per annum. This
is one of the wholly unnecessary trib-
utes that labor is paying to capital
right here in enlightened New England.
Now for these analyses. The tables
are worth studying. They are well
compiled, and lack only the extension
(for which the page affords plenty of
ROOM of the total Station price of the
available constituents of each fertilizer.
AS they are now given, the reader has
to copy off and add up the Station prices
of the nitrogen, phOsphoric acid and