462 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



PKOF. IlOrivlNS: I have been handed a letter which 1 will read; 

 the names have been taken off, so I can give 3'ou only the body of 

 the letter. It reads as follows: 



"Dear Sir: Your favor of the 24th inst. received and noted. We quote you 

 High Grade Fine Ground Tennesse Phosphate Rock (not acidulated) at $12.00 

 per 2,000 lbs. f. o. b. cars Baltimore, net cash. 



"We have seen the article written for one of the Farmers' Journals, advising 

 the use of Ground Phosphate Rock, and we feel sure that the writer of the 

 article is in error. Ground Phosphate Rock, whether it be Tennessee Rock, 

 Florida Rock, or South Carolina Rock, is not available unless it is dissolved, 

 and the farmer may just as well use so much sand or dirt. 



If Phosphate Rock were available by simply grinding it fine, we certainly 

 would not dissolve it, as we would sooner ship the Fine Ground Rock than the 

 Dissolved Rock, for very many good reasons. 



"For the stables and manure heap, we would recommend Genuine Nova Scotia 

 Land Plaster, or Dissolved Phosphate Rock. This same thing occurs every littlt; 

 while, and we are free to say that we have never supplied the same man twice 

 with Ground Phosphate Rock; we would therefore advise those who insist upon 

 making' the experiment to go at it lightly, until they have fully dem.onstrated 

 the value of Ground Phosphate Rock. 



"Awaiting your valued favors, we remain, 



"Very truly j^ours," 



PROF. HOPKINS: That letter demonstrates the manufacturer's 

 side of the question. He has something that he is anxious to sell. 

 Now, at the Ohio Experiment Station they have put the raw rock 

 on the land in a part of the field for five years, and manure, and I 

 may say that they have also their the acid phosphorus and the gen- 

 uine land plaster, and cement, and the phosphorus paid them the best 

 returns. The phosphorus has paid them .*iJ'G.97 for every dollar in- 

 vested for the past nine years, with corn at 35 cents and wheat at 

 67 cents. Tlie acid has paid them |4.59 in the same way; the land 

 plaster has paid its cost, and more; but in the end of the one that has 

 paid the largest return for the amount of money invested is the fine 

 ground rock. I have looked over the situation at the Ohio station 

 and I have confidence in their work. I think there is no w^ork more 

 thoroughly conducted than theirs is, 



EX-SECRETARY EDGE: I want to ask you regarding the ex- 

 periments conducted by Mr. Thorne. Have you confidence in them? 



PROF. HOPKINS: Absolutely. I think there are no safer experi- 

 ments in the world than those conducted by Mr. Thorne. 



The SECRETARY: Mr. Edge, I am sure, does not mean any reflec- 

 tion on Mr. Thome's work; he is simply asking for information. 



DR. HUNT: I also want to know about 1 he experiments of Mr. 

 Thomas, and agree with Mr. Hopkins. I would like to say just a 

 word in this discussion. Prof. Hopkins will not misunderstand me, 

 I am sure. I want to refer to the statement he made that the soli 

 has potassium enough, and it is not necessary to put it on. Now, 

 what is the condition in the eastern part of the United States? Now% 

 T was born in Illinois and know the land that Dr. Hopkins experi- 

 ments on as well as I know my own children. I know- Ohio fairly 

 w-ell; I have spent four years there and have made experiments 

 there. T have also experimented in New York and know a little of 

 Pennsylvania. 



Now, you may say that one-seventh of the hay raised in the 

 United States is raised in New York, on the Dunkirk clay loam, and 



