Improvements in Fertilizing Compounds or Fertilizers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fertilizing Compounds or Fertilizers.
"
I, JOHN PATTERSON, Engineer, of No. 3929 Baring Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, have invented a
certain new and useful "IMPROVEMENTS IN FERTILIZING COMPOUNDS OR FERTILIZERS,'
and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description
thereof:-
My invention has relation to compounds or fertilizing compositions for enriching
the soil, and consists in the elements and ingredients hereinafter particularly
described.
The object of my invention is to produce a compound or composition containing
certain chemical properties and ingredients, which, when in combination, and after a
certain period of exposure to light and heat, produce substantially like properties and
ingredients as those subtracted from the soil, such as, what is commonly known as
plant food, and which, when applied to the soil, enriches the same and artificially
produces abundant growth.
My improved fertilizing compound consists in the following ingredients, and are
preferably divided into the following relative proportions, though other proportions
may be employed for different soils, viz. :-unslacked caustic lime twelve hundred
pounds (1200), pulverized gypsum or land plaster, twelve hundred pounds (1200),
pulverized rotten rock, viz.-rock which is decomposed or partially decomposed,
three thousand one hundred and fifty pounds (3150), muck or common bog deposit,
four thousand pounds (4000); sulphate of iron, or copperas, three hundred pounds
(300); and common salt one hundred and fifty pounds (150), total ten thousand
pounds (10,000).
The unslacked lime, the pulverized gypsum, rotten rock and muck are first mixed
together, and to this compound is then added the sulphate of iron, or copperas, and
the common salt, which have been previously slacked or dissolved together in water
of proper proportions. Water is then added to the entire compound thus commingled
in sufficient quantities to slack the lime, the entire mass becoming a hot, powdered
mixture.
It is then preferably allowed to remain under cover accessible to light and heat,
adding a little additional lime if necessary to keep up a high degree of temperature.
In order to properly displace the plant food in the gypsum and rotten rock and the
sulphate of iron in the muck or bog the compound is preferably allowed to remain
from three to twelve months, as may be desirable for the particular purpose for which
it is to be used.
The relative proportions of the various soluble materials composing the compound
may be somewhat varied and deviated from, as herein set forth, as preferable pro-
portions, and yet not deviate from my invention.
The caustic lime sets free phosphoric acid, potash and ammonia, which are otherwise
insoluble and make a rich plant food for all vine growing fruits, and such as the peach,
the plum and all large seed growing fruits.
The pulverized gypsum acts upon the lime as well as being acted upon by the lime
and gives forth sulphate of iron. The rotten rock gives out phosphoric acid, potash
and all plant foods, which are generally insoluble without the action of the lime and
plaster, and analysis shows it to contain potash, soda, lime, magnesia, oxide of iron,
alumina, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, chlorina and silica, in various proportions,
which proportions differ often in different qualities of stratified rotten rock; analysis
shows the usual and frequent proportions to be as follows:-Potassia 12, soda 8,-

page_text: lime 3.16, magnesia 7.02, oxide of iron 0-64, alumina 0.10, phosphoric acid 39-32,
sulphuric acid 4 chlorine 0-2, silica 29-16; total 100.
The bog is made soluble by the action of the former ingredients upon it, and during
exposure to the light and heat forms by reason of its composition, a rich plant food
which is sweetened by the action of the other ingredients.
The sulphate of iron assists to displace the chemical parts composing the other
ingredients, and the salt assists to make the entire compound in combination a sweeter
and a richer: plant food.
It is material and important in the manufacture and formation of my improved
fertilizer that the several ingredients of which the compound is composed remain
commixed and commingled in the manner described and exposed to the light and heat
for a period preferably of several months, in order to properly allow the displacement
of the chemical properties which form the rich plant food of the several ingredients
and to allow of a chemical action of the one upon the other, and which would not
occur if they were applied to the soil separately.
Phosphoric acid, potash and ammonia are the essential fertilizing substances and
properties requisite in the production of crops, and the rendering of these elements
soluble and the commingling of them in my improved compound with the soil recovers
the fertility of worn-out lands and enriches others, producing a superior growth. It
supplies to the soil and to the roots of vegetation the very elements that must be
extracted from the soil to produce cereals, vegetables and fruits, etc. especially wine-
growing fruits and peaches, which latter requires an abundance of mineral acids to
form the wood fibre and to preserve the vitality of the bud, in the absence of which it
is liable to the disease known as the "yellows."
The same thing applies to the coffee-growing districts.
The composition may be prepared at a very low cost by the farmers according to
their needs, or by manufacturers in large quantities in broken or pounded form for
sale and shipment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The within described fertilizing compound composed of material substantially as
herein specified' commixed and commingled in the manner and for the purpose sub-
stantially as herein before set forth and described.
2. The within described fertilizing compound composed of caustic lime, gypsum,
rotten rock, common bog, sulphate of iron, salt and water united and commingled in
desirable proportions and treated substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
3: The within described fertilizing compound composed substantially of caustic
lime, gypsum, rotten rock; common bog, sulphate of iron and salt united and com-
mingled in desirable proportions and treated substantially as hereinbefore set forth
and described.
4. In the manufacture of fertilizing material the method or process herein described
of commingling and commixing the various ingredients and exposing the same
substantially as described.
5. The within described fertilizing compound composed of caustic lime unslacked
when introduced,,gypsum or land plaster, rotten rock, muck, sulphate of iron, salt and
water commingled substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
6. The within described fertilizing compound composed in the proportions, as
substantially set forth, of caustic lime unslacked when commingled and adapted to be
slacked' in composition, gypsum or land plaster, rotten rock, muck, sulphate of iron,
salt and water commingled and treated substantially as herein before. set forth and
described.
7. In the within described fertilizing compound caustic lime unslacked when first
commingled with the other ingredients of the composition and adapted to be slacked
when in composition with the other ingredients, gypsum, pulverized rotten rock muck
sulphate of iron, salt and water mixed and commingled in desirable proportions and

page_text: exposed when in combination, in their commingled form, in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein set forth and described.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of
August A.D. 1890.
Witnesses :-
REESE M. FLEISCHMANN.
H. WALL PETTIT.
JOHN PATTERSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.