210 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fast as they require it, while the phosphate of the mineral is in- 

 soluble in reality as well as nominally, and the leather, unlike most 

 animal substances, resists decomposition and refuses to yield its 

 nitrogen as ammonia. This is an extreme case, not likely to occur 

 frequently, and cited to illustrate the point in hand ; but in larger 

 or less degree there is usually a difference between intrinsic value 

 and that indicated by analyses made in the usual methods. But 

 notwithstanding the imperfections of analysis, it is the only availa- 

 ble method, and is abundantly sufficient to drive out the great 

 bulk of trashy matters so persistently urged upon farmers. 



In Great Britain the usual method has come to be, to buy by 

 guaranteed analysis. That is, you buy an article warranted to 

 contain a stated amount of soluble and insoluble phosphate, ammo- 

 nia, &c., and if it fails to give satisfaction, you cause a sample to 

 be analyzed, and if it be found to contain less than the guaranteed 

 amount, recover damages of the vendor. 



What I would like to see is, a law compelling every manufac- 

 turer to affix a label stating the contents of its more valuable 

 constituents, with provisions for recovering a fixed and sufficient 

 sum for every pound which might be found deficient therein.* 



There is another method of obtaining a fair degree of security 

 against fraud, which is to buy of honest manufacturers and deal- 

 ers ; and if you cannot be sure of finding such As possess true 

 integrity of character, connected with sufficient intelligence, you 

 can find those who have invested more of reputation and more of 

 capital than they are willing to put in jeopardy by fraudulent 

 dealings. Such men cannot afford to cheat. They have under- 

 standing enough to enable them to comprehend and act upon the 

 low grade commercial truth contained in the adage that " Honesty 

 is the best policy." 



Another hint may be of service. When you see a quack nos- 

 trum, or anything else, extensively advertised, and pushed off by 

 agents at large ex2-)ense, does not the idea. suggest itself, both that 

 the article brings a large profit, and also that it so far lacks real 

 merit as to need a special fertilizer in order to bring up continuous 

 crops of customers ? It is very well to advertise a new article 

 sufficiently to bring it to notice, but after that it should find buy- 

 ers on its merits, without excessive expenditure for either adver- 

 tising or agents. It does not require much of that sort of effort 



* Sucb a law was ^ncted at the session of 1869 by the legislature of Maine, and will 

 be the subject of remarks farther on in this report. 



