The Manufacture of Improved Fertilized and Fertilizing Materials.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
The Manufacture of Improved Fertilized and Fertilizing Materials.
I, CHARLES HALFORD THOMPSON, F.R.H.S., of Eastcliff, Teignmouth, in the
County of Devon, Colonel in H.M. Regiment of Royal Artillery, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The objects of my invention are:-
First. The manufacture of an improved fertilized spongy or fibrous material of
the kind described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and
dated 1st Novr. 1894, No. 20,971, which will serve as a substitute for earth
and in which plants may be grown without earth, and in which every species of
plant can be raised from seed or struck as cuttings and brought to maturity quicker
than in earth.
Secondly. The manufacture of an improved liquid fertilizer of the kind described
in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 1st Novr.
1894, No. 20,971, in a concentrated form, for use, after being diluted, with every
description of plant or agricultural crop, such liquid fertilizer being made from
the same chemicals as are used for impregnating the spongy or fibrous material as
hereinafter described.
My improved fertilized material hereinafter described may be used as a substitute
for earth for sowing seeds, striking cuttings and raising plants and other purposes,
or as "mulching" or manure, and is well adapted for use in tea, coffee and other
plantations for bringing on supplies to take the place of those plants that from one
cause or another die off annually. Cinchona, oranges, mangoes, sugar-cane and
many other trees and plants have been found to root more freely and retain more
moisture round the roots and to come to maturity much sooner when planted in my
improved fertilized fibre than when planted in ordinary earth. The material is also
specially adapted for rooting vine-cuttings, making vine-borders, and for digging in
with every description of fruit-tree when planting the same out.
In manufacturing fertilized fibre according to my present invention, I take
peat-moss, ordinary moss, sponge-clippings, cocoanut fibre, sugar-cane refuse, saw-
dust or any other suitable absorbent fibrous or spongy material and impregnate the
same with a solution of soot, bone-meal, phosphoric acid, potash (pearl-ash) and
Ditrate of soda in water, in the manner and in or about in the proportions
hereinafter stated.
.
I usually proceed as follows:-1 provide a suitable boiler with a false-bottom
or cage, and, after removing the said false-bottom, I put into the said boiler about
60 gallons of water in which are dissolved :-

page_text: 7
The last three ingredients are made into a paste with the addition of a little
water and thoroughly mixed till the consistency of mortar is obtained. The false-
bottom containing the mixture of soot, gypsum and bone-meal, is then lowered into
the boiler, which is then filled with the moss or other substance to be impregnated.
The water is raised to boiling point and allowed to boil for from 20 to 30 minutes,
being well stirred with a rod to ensure the whole mass being acted upon. After
stirring, a cover is put on with sufficient space around the edges to allow part of
the steam to escape but to confine the remainder thereof. When sufficiently boiled,
the fibre is removed from the boiler and put into a suitable press or hydro-extractor
and the unabsorbed solution is thereby squeezed into a catch-pit below.
This liquor is collected and returned to the boiler, and sufficient water is then
added to make up the 60 gallons, and more moss is placed in the boiler, and treated
in the manner above described. This is done a third time and the impregnated
fibre resulting from the three brewings is mixed together and put into a
"fermenting pit" where it is allowed to ferment, the temperature being carefully
taken periodically with a "bottom heat thermometer. If the temperature
exceeds 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the fibre is removed, and spread out and allowed
to cool and is then put back again. I also -occasionally increase the temperature
by adding yeast or some other ferment if the fermentation does not proceed
rapidly enough without it.
"
In lieu of the above process, I sometimes boil the moss or other fibrous material
in a liquor prepared in the same proportions from the ingredients above mentioned,
thus obviating the necessity for employing the false-bottom.
The nitrate of soda is an important ingredient in the above described com-
position, as it not only quickens the action of the fertilized fibre; but reduces
the quantity of soot required, thus diminishing the liability of the fertilized fibre
being too strong for seedlings. The potash is also an important ingredient in the
said composition, as although it exists in the peat-moss and in the soot, it is not
present therein in sufficient quantities to afford the plants the nourishment they
require, and potash in proper quantity is absolutely essential to plant life.
My improved fermented liquid fertilizer also consists of soot, raw gypsum, bone-
meal, phosphoric acid, potash (pearl-ash) and nitrate of soda, and is prepared by
making a solution of these ingredients in water in or about in the following
proportions, viz. :-

page_text: These ingredients may be substituted for the soot, gypsum and bone-meal in
making both the fertilized fibre and the liquid fertilizer above described.
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 :-
First. The manufacture of a fertilized material consisting of peat-moss or other
suitable fibrous or spongy substance impregnated with a solution of soot, gypsum,
bone-meal (or the chemical or functional equivalents of these substances),
phosphoric acid, potash (pearl-ash) and nitrate of soda and afterwards fermented.
so as to cause a complete chemical interchange of the ingredients, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Second. The manufacture of a liquid fertilizer consisting of water, soot, gypsum,
bone-meal, phosphoric acid, potash (pearl-ash) and nitrate of soda or the chemical
or functional equivalents thereof, boiled together and, after the addition thereto
of sugar or saccharine matter, fermented with yeast or other ferment so as to

page_text: cause a chemical interchange of the ingredients, substantially as herein before
described.
Third. In the manufacture of fertilized or fertilizing materials, the use of nitrate
of soda together with soot, gypsum, bone-meal and phosphoric acid, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In the manufacture of fertilized or fertilizing materials, the use of
potash (pearl-ash) together with soot, gypsum, bone-meal and phosphoric acid,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. In the manufacture of a liquid fertilizer of the kind or class hereinbefore
referred to, the use of sugar or saccharine matter to help the fermentation of the
same, substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 15th day of Anril 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.