The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-03-22

Uu01F ulIIOSeH tuu pOUdSH1 Iu0 PHOS'
phoric acid being retained these have
been termed phosphate guanos, while
the Gillian grades are termed Initroge
neous guanos. The natural sources of
phosphoric acid are the rock phosphate,
extensively used by the superphosphate
manufacturers, large quantities being
brought from the island of Navassa. near
Sn. Domingo, and from the South Caro-
lima and Florida phosphate beds. The
artificial sources of supply are the vast
plains of South America, from whence
have been collected and exported the
bones ofinnumerable herds Of cattle slain
for their hides, and millions of others dy-
ing from natural causes, during the past
one hundred and fifty years.
Potash, used commercially as tertili-
zer was at first derived from wood ashes
and often from feldspar, and the supply
was long insufficient; but about 1860 the
salt miners of Prussia discovered large
deposits OF potash salts, which have
since been the main supply for the manu-
facture of fertilizers the world over, the
damaging chloride of magnesium being
first removed. These Prussian mines are
vast deposits OF saline matter, evidently
crystallized out of sea water. Before
crude salts can be advantageously sold
and transported they haveto go through
course ofpreparation which, according
to the nature of the deposit and the pro-
cess, develops sulphate OF potash and
muriate of potash.
Nitrogen, as an article of commerce,
has been obtained in large quantities
from Peru and Chill, in the form OF Chilli
saltpeter, found in the interior of those
countries in vast quantities, sometimes
many feet in thickness. AS much as four
million tons have been exported annually
but the Peruvian government has now
reserved these deposits for domestic use.
OF course, there are other sources Of nj
trogen, especially in the by-products of
manufacturers, for example, sulphate OF
ammonia, from gas works. Animal nj
trogen is largely obtained from fish scrap
OF whcih sixty thousand tons are annu-
ally produced on the Atlantic coast.
OF course, the raw or fresh fish will fur
nish this same ammonia. The writer
has plowed under, on his firms farms in
Lancaster county, Virginia, from seven
to nine million fish annually; the fish
being menhaden, a species slightly smaller
than herring. Cracklings from the tall
low works, dried blood and tankage from
slaughter houses, are valuable sources of
supply for agricultural nitrogen.
By the introduction of commercial fer
tilizers farm operations have been freed
from the restrictions and limitations i'm
posed by the deficient sources of home
made manures, and the intelligent farmer
may vastly extend his operations, while
the scientific one turns his farm into a
factory, where he endeavors, sometimes,
with the aid of climatic influences, and
sometimes defeated by such influences, to
manufacture his products.
The worldwide use of commercial fer
tilizers has served to establish q stand
ard of agricultu ral value OF all the ingre-
dents, and their high price has stimu-
lated the inquiring gardener to closer
scrutiny into the entire subject, not only
of nlant nutritiOn hut AS roSnocts hu-