Improvements in Fertilizers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fertilizers.
We, EDUARD SAXL, and HEINRICH SAXL, both of 20, Rennweg Vienna III, in
the Empire of Austria, Manure Manufacturers 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 :-
Heretofore nearly all natural fertilizing substances have been converted into
merchantable commodities by concentrating them. Thus, fecal matter is made up,
by drying, disintegrating and pressing it, into a powder, which contains the matters
for making land productive and yet admits of cheap and easy carriage.
The excrements of the domestic animals however have not yet been treated in this
way, and thus they have been of value only in those cases where they could be
utilized in the locality in which they were produced; in all other cases they were
worthless.
As is well known, the excrements of animals contain in the state, in which they
are excreted about 22 per cent. of matters suitable for enriching the soil, and 78 per
cent. of water.
Now we have found that it is possible to concentrate the dung, that is to say to
combine in a small bulk those components of the same, which are adapted to furnish
nutriment to plants; this is effected by freeing the excrements of the domestic
animals from water and converting them into a compressed or pulverized mass.
The process, by which the purpose in view is attained, is a simple one, and has
not yet been used with the excrements of domestic animals.
This process is as follows. The excrements of the domestic animals in an
unmixed state or in the state of stable dung, viz., mingled with litter, are dried.
The drying may be effected in any suitable manner, either by means of a centrifugal
apparatus, or in the air, or with the aid of artificial heat. The dried dung is after-
wards pressed into cakes of any suitable form, by preference into rectangular ones.
The presses and moulds used for this operation are of the usual construction. Hitherto,
excrements of domestic animals in this form have been unknown.
The compressed dung may furthermore be reduced to coarse or fine powder by
grinding or pounding it or in any other suitable way. In this form also the excrements
of domestic animals have been unknown hitherto.
It is obvious that other substances adapted to fertilize the soil and to support
vegetable life, such as phosphates, salts of potash, nitrogenous matters and the like
may be added to the said excrements whether mixed with litter or not, and whether
being in the raw state or dried, pressed and comminuted as described. As will be
readily understood, the nature of our invention is nowise altered by such purely
mechanical additions.
By giving the excrements of the domestic animals the novel forms herein before
explained the same are set free from the spot of their production having been deprived
of the per centage of water they contained on being excreted they comprise in a
small volume and in a concentrated condition those of their constitutent parts which
are adapted for enriching land. Consequently such dung is made transportable at
little expense, as the cost of carriage is diminished in the same rate as the weight
and volume of the dung is reduced by the elimination of the water which makes up
78 per cent. of fresh excrements.
In this way it is rendered possible to export the excrements of domestic animals
from countries where it is plentiful and thus creating a new branch of industry for
the production of concentrated natural dung as a mechantable commodity thus providing
new sources of income.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improved fertilizer consisting of the excrements of domestic animals
freed from water by drying and then formed into cakes by pressing substantially
as described.
Second. The improved fertilizer consisting of the excrements of domestic animals
freed from water by drying them and reduced to powder by grinding or pounding
substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of Noveanahan 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.