Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-11-15
EaYtt4 x#t4tests,
Phosphates,
Farmers Home Journal.

Farmers Home Journal.
The subject Of fertilizers has fire.
quently been discussed in our meet
ings, and the time has come when
we can, perhaps, dissect this general
term and get some food for profitable
thought; hence l call your attention
to phosphates which is one of the
leading elements that enter into the
composition of all fertilizers. In
fact it is the principal element that
enters into the frame work (f / am
allowed the expression) of the mate
rial universe. The rock-ribbed earth,
all vegetable and animal matter ev-
erything we come in contact with in
life or death is largely composed OF
this wonderful substance we call
phosphate. With it fruits and flow
ers gladden. the hearts of men.
Without it sterility and barrenness
greet the eye.
If you ask me what this substance
is l can only say it is simple ele'
ment and cannot be defined no more
than you can define oxygen, carbon,
lime, potash, and even figures or
numbers, are the only names given
to designate one from the other. So
with phosphates.
We find it combined with lime in
various forms-hence we say phos
pilates of lime with sand, we say,
calcium phosphate. We know not
why the term bone phosphates
should have become the common term
among chemists as we'll as farmers
unless it was for many years sup
posed that animal bone alone con
tanned phosphate in large quantity
and the only substance in which il
was to be found in large quaint
ties.
About seventy years ago learned
German chemist began to analyzC
various substances, and discovered
phosphate in almost all materia
substances. This led to many inter
esting experiments. Chemistry was
appealed to for more light, and abou
thirty years ago the celebrated firm
Of Laws & Gilbert, of England, spen
freely of their large fortune to make
practical application of the recen
scientific discoveries.
Germany and Belgium were TIT
first to lend government aid in suf
ticent amounts to establish expert
mental farms. Then followed Eng
land and other European countries
and now we have these experimental
farms in almost every section of on
own country. All Of them have con
nected with them a chemical labOra
tory and have done and are doini
much to unite scientific work of tn
laboratory and the practical every
day work of the farm. In nothing
has there been so much light throw
as the wonderful amount of phos
phate that is required by animal AM
vegetable life.
1t has been a serious question
where is the supply of this materis
to come from? Animal bone cannC
supply the demand. The philar
thropiSt and chemist, in search fo
more, found in Canada a substanC
called apatite, which has proven va
liable, but this is in limited quaint
ties. The discovery of the great bee
of phosphate rock in South CarOlin
appeared to supply the growing d.
mand for while, but this was large
ly taken by the European cOuntrie
Then another great source of pho!
phate was brought to light by tn
chemist, in utilizing the commo
Stag, from which steel is made, bl
this was not sufficient to supply II
growing demand. Another suppl
has been discovered in Florida. TT
large deposits found here will +
doubt quiet our nerves and give II
farmer assurance that the much nee
ed substance will be reasonable
price for many ages TO come. Thu
more light will be thrown upon i
use / am confident.
V. NJ. METCALFE.
Hard Times Then and Now.