IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FERTILIZING AGENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cane Coombe, of Swinton Street, Gray's Inn
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FERTILIZING AGENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL,
HORTICULTURAL, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 13th October 1864, and dated the 15th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cane Coombe,.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th April 1864.
I, JAMES CANE COOMBE, of Swinton Street, Gray's Inn Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FERTILIZING AGENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL,
HORTICULTURAL, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the application of fluorine or its compounds as a'
fertilizing agent in agriculture. In practically carrying out this object, the
fluorine must be combined with any suitable base and mixed with some neutral
substance, such, for instance, as pulverized gypsum, or plaster of Paris, or
felspar, reduced to a coarse powder, through which the active and fertilizing
properties of the fluorine will be properly diffused.
I do not confine myself to any particular compound of fluorine, but use any
fluo-compound which is soluble in water, or decomposible by atmospheric
action; but I prefer to use the fluoride of ammonium, for, among other reasons,

page_text: the facility with which it becomes decomposed when brought into contact with
siliceous matter, and because the ammonia contained in the compound plays
an important part as a fertilizer. As the neutral substance with which the
fluoride is mixed for the purpose of diluting it, and diffusing its properties
through a larger mass of solid matter is not intended to have any very
important chemical effect on the soil, the proportion in which the substances
are mixed is a matter of no great importance, and may be varied. As an
example, however, I would take, say, from ten to twenty-five or thirty parts
of the fluoride to one hundred parts of the neutral substance whatever it may
be, and as the ingredients will be in the form of a coarse powder, the fertilizer
may be drilled into the land. It will, of course, be understood, that this new
fertilizing agent may be added to other well-known fertilizers, such as urine,
nightsoil, phosphate of lime, peat, charcoal, and other suitable substances and
composts, or compounds of various kinds. may thus be formed for application
to soils of different qualities.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cane Coombe in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CANE COOMBE, of No. 18, Swinton Street, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Chemist, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Cane Coombe, Her special licence that I, the said.
James Cane Coombe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Cane Coombe, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the terin therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FERTILIZING AGENTS FOR
AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND OTHER, ANALAGOUS: PURPOSES," upon. the con-
dition (amongst others), that; I, the, said James Cane Coombe, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one

page_text: of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in, what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said 'Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE; that I, the said James Cane Coombe, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
These improvements consist in the application of fluorine in the nascent
state to all or any of those soils which contain plant food, chemically or
otherwise, combined with silica or any other earth capable of being acted on
by fluorine, so that the fertilizers may be more quickly and efficiently liberated
from their, so to say, locked up condition, than they can be by simple atmo-
spheric action or fallow. This desirable and most important result I accomplish
by employing certain fluorine compounds which are capable of yielding up the
fluorine when in contact with the soil, either simply through atmospheric
action, or by admixture with certain dry acid manures, as for example, super-
phosphate of lime or any analagous compound. I prefer the use of the alkaline
fluorides, especially the fluoride of ammonium, but, the fluorides of sodium and
potassium are nearly of equal value, and can be more economically manufac-
tured on account of their abundance and comparative cheapness. It is advisable
generally to mix the fluoride employed with some neutral body, as ground
felspar, or ground coprolites, or indeed anything compatible with the object,
and especially those rocks and minerals abounding in phosphates or alkalies,
to the extent of from ten to thirty and fifty per cent., with the object of
causing a larger diffusion through the soil, and when a more silent and longer
sustained action is required. Where, however, a more immediate and decided
action is required, the employment of some compatible acid manure will be
advantageous, in any proportions up to fifty per cent. or more of the fluoride
if a yet quicker action may be found desirable. These fluorides may be
advantageously used in combination with many other well-known manures, in
fact with any that leaves them undecomposed till their application to the soil,
for as the principal object sought for is action of the fluorine in the nascent state
all that has to be obviated is chemical action till their rendition to the soil; any
suitable material may be employed for admixture with the fluoride, by
preference using it dry. I'may add here, that the alkaline fluorides are cheaply
procurable, and that they are readily decomposable when in contact with
siliceous soils and compounds by simple atmospheric agencies and influences.

page_text: I claim then the sole use and application of the alkaline fluorides, such
as the fluorides of ammonium, sodium, and potassium, either as agents in
the manufacture of artificial manures, or for their employment as simple
salts, alone or mixed with other suitable materials as manures or fertilizing
agents.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cane Coombe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord 1864.
JAMES CANE COOMBE.. (L.S.)