248 STATK BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



example, is wortli. Its selling price is $io a ton ; its actual value ?!l7.50 per 

 ton. Profit to Mie inaiiufacturers, $27.50 per ton. Ai^ain, the price of the 

 Luili double reliiied poudrette is "^25 a ton ; actual value, 88.59 a ton. The 

 price of the aninioniated bone is §48 a ton; real value $13.26 a ton. Rus- 

 sell Coe'e superphosphate, selling price $60 per ton ; real value $33.50 to $34.50 

 per ton. Wilson's superphosphate, price $55; actual worth $23 to $25 a ton. 



In many of the States the sale of fertilizers is so great, and there is such an 

 excellent opportunity for fraud, that laws have been passed to protect the 

 farmer against this swindle. The law of Connecticut read thus: "Every 

 package of fifty pounds or more of commercial manure sold or kept for sale at 

 over one cent a pound shall be marked with its weight and the name and place 

 of business of the manufacturer or seller, and with a true analysis of the 

 <3hemical elements and their several amounts contained therein. Any manu- 

 facturer or trader who shall sell or offer for sale any package containing fifty 

 pounds or more of commercial manure not marked as required by law, or who 

 shall affix thereto a stamp, impress or card claiming that it contains five per 

 cent more of any fertilizing ingredient than it does in fact, shall forfeit ten 

 dollars for each hundred pounds thereof so offered for sale." This is proba- 

 bly the most effective of all the laws enacted to prevent fraud in fertilizers. 

 There is an agricultural experiment station at ]\Iiddletown where fertilizers 

 will be analyzed for a small price, and nearly all fertilizers are submitted to 

 them before put in the market. Tlie sale of fertilizers in this State has not 

 reached that extent to make laws on the subject necessary. One way to get a 

 good fertilizer is to deal with well known firms who have reputations to sus- 

 tain. It may almost be taken for granted that those firms who have agents 

 puffing their wares are selling a poor article, for the salaries of the agents must 

 come from their customers. 



At the present time there is only one superphosphate made in this State. 

 The Michigan Carbon Works of Detro.t are manufacturing a high grade 

 superphosphate from bone black. Sulphate of potash is present, and dried 

 blood is added to furnish the necessary amount of nitrogen. A ton of their 

 fertilizer contains from 160 to 200 lbs. of soluble phosphoric acid, 25 lbs. of 

 reverted phosphoric acid, and 40 lbs. of insoluble phosphoric acid. Also about 

 40 lbs. of potash, and the same amount of nitrogen in a form that will be 

 readily converted into ammonia in the soil. I do not care to advertise their 

 fertilizer further than to call the attention of those desiring superphosphates 

 to the fact that we have a very good article made witliin the State. As super- 

 phosphates are liable to be adulterated and worthless, farmers are usually 

 advised to make the fertilizer themselves. I find one receipt for preparing su- 

 perphosphate, which is as follows: "Superphosphates may be manufactured 

 at home by getting up a sufficient quantity of dry bones, making a large heap 

 mixed witli dry pine wood, and burning the whole mass to ashes. Pound and 

 sift till the ash is reduced to a powdered mass. Now have ready a box, water 

 tight, of suitable dimensions, into which put the bone ash and add sufficient 

 water to wet the mass thoroughly. Then take the brown acid of commerce, 

 and to every gallon add about four gallons of water. Pour on the moistened 

 bone ash this diluted acid, slowly, keeping several hands stirring with wooden 

 paddles. * * * Continue to pour on the acid until the contents of the box 

 becomes a semi-fluid mass, and all effervescence ceases. * * * One carboy 

 of acid might be used on 300 lbs. of bone ash." * 



But I do not believe the farmer can afford to made this fertilizer. Its mau- 



* Pendleton's Scientific Agriculture, p. 293. 



