160 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



were taken, and lOs. more were given as the season advanced. 

 From Finland about SOs. standard. Archangel and Onega 

 75a. and 80s. was the general rate. The quotation was at one 

 time 703., but again recovered, and 90s. were given to secure 

 the late ships. Savannah and Darien, 35s. to 403. per load. 

 Moulmeine ships arriving with old charters at SOs. to 105s. 

 per load ; while charters in India were made from 60s. to 703. 

 per load. 



At the opening of the year 1859, there seemed every 

 prospect of a healthy and vigorous trade throughout the 

 country. Counteracting influences have, however, disappointed 

 this hope. The war in Italy affected all our commercial re- 

 lations, and no sooner had the war ceased than the wood trade 

 was especially damaged hj the builders' strike. We have 

 shown that the consumption of wood has increased, but there* 

 has been no spirit, no confidence in speculation, no trust in 



the future. At the period when large quantities of wood 

 should have been consumed, the ill-judged strike of the 

 operatives sacrificed two valuable months in the year of the 

 building trade. 



The price of v/ood in the countries of its production has 

 been so much higher of late years, that an importation now 

 seldom realizes its first cost. During the past year there was 

 no disposition to pay the prices demanded in Russia and in 

 Sweden, until after the shipowners were compelled to carry the 

 wood, in some instances for half, and in many, two-thirds of 

 the customary freight. 



There are again before us the elements of a better trade. 

 We have cheap building materials in hand, the condition of all 

 classes has improved, there is plenty of money, credit is sound, 

 and the counteracting influences of the past year are not 

 likely to recur. Churchill and Sim. 



REVIEW OF THE ARTIFICIAL MANURE AND OILCAKE 



DURING THE PAST YEAR. 



TRADE 



In reviewing the state of the artificial manure trade during 

 the past year, I think I may say it has been on the whole 

 both satisfactory to the manufacturer and also to the farmer, 

 the one having been able to buy his raw materials at a price 

 remunerating to him to manufacture from, and the other that 

 he has been able to procure what he has required at a low 

 rate ; and from reports received from the principal local 

 manufacturers he has taken advantage of this state of things. 



The unsatisfactory price of grain has made agriculturists 

 chary in laying out their money on manures, but the time has 

 now arrived when he feels himself bound to keep up this 

 artificial mode of cultivation to compete at all with his neigh- 

 bour in the produce of his acres. 



Peruvian guano still remains in the hands of the monopo- 

 lists, who have kept the price up at their pleasure, and much 

 above its real value compared with other artificial manures, 

 but it is satisfactory to know that the quantity sold has been 

 far short of any former year, and so proving beyond all doubt 

 that substitutes can be obtained of equal value to the consumer 

 at a lower price, thus showing our chances of producing a crop 

 are not quite dependent on the Peruvian Government for an 

 artificial manure. The stock this time last year was nearly 

 300,000 tons ; the import has been only slightly over 20,000 

 tons ; and the present stock is about 180,000 tons, thus leav- 

 ing the sales at 140,000 for the whole year. 



Superphosphate of lime has been largely made use of, but I 

 think I am correct in stating the London manufacturers have 

 not experienced such a demand as they have been accus- 

 tomed to, owing to the great increase of local makers all 

 over the kingdom, and the preference given by purchasers 

 to manures made in their own districts. The value of good 

 superphosphate made from bones containing a fair amount of 

 soluble phosphate is too well known to call for any remark 

 here ; the best proof is that at moat of the agricultural 

 meetings held during the last autumn prizes were awarded to 

 roots grown with this manure in many more instances than 

 when produced with Peruvian guano. 



The price of nearly all raw materials has been on the de- 

 cline throughout the year. 



Bone Ash at the commencement of last year was selling at 

 £5 to £5 10s. per ton, but as the season advanced cargoes 

 were pressed on the market until the price gave way consider- 

 ably, and some large purchases were made both here and in 

 Liverpool at £4 per ton. Stocks are small, and the quantity 

 on the way insignificant, and the value is now £4 7s. 6d. to 

 £4 lOs. for 70 per cent. Phosphate of Lime. 



Bones have been largely sold, the price being so much in 

 favour of the buyer. Immediately after the close of the season 

 the price dropped from £5 5s. to £4 5s. to £4 7s. 6d. per ton, 

 and at this price some large contracts were entered into; since 

 which they have slightly improved, and the value now is £4 

 lOs. to £4 15s. for South American, and £4 10a. to £4 128, 

 6d. for good clean London collected. 



Animal charcoal has fluctuated from £5 to £4 lOs., at which 

 several cargoes of London make hare been sold for delivery at 

 outports. 



The Estramudara phosphate of lime, of all other materials, 

 will eventually be the most valuable to the manufacturer of 

 artificial manures. Several analyses have been made and 

 opinions obtained from various chemists, showing its great 

 superiority over all sources of phosphate yet discovered. Im- 

 portant arrangements are in progress for insuring a regular 

 supply, and in a short time arrangements can be made for any 

 sized cargo for outports in the United Kingdom. It has been 

 tried by several superphosphate makers, who all pronounce it 

 the most soluble material in acid yet used. It is perfectly 

 free from any carbonate of lime. 



Coprolites, owing to the extremely low price of all bone 

 phosphates, have been rather neglected by the trade ; they 

 are, however, a cheap source of phosphate at the present 

 price — they have been sold as low as 383. and 509. per ton for 

 whole and ground respectively, free on board on the east coast. 



Nitrate of soda has fallen from £16 to £15 Ss. and £15 

 10s. per ton — the latter is the price for spring delivery. 



Sulphate of ammonia has remained almost stationary 

 throughout the year ; there has been no export demand, so 

 that the whole make has been at the disposal of the home 

 trade — £14 to £14 Ss. for brown, and £14 5s. to £14 lOs. for 

 white is the present value. 



Sulphuric-acid is perhaps the only article used by the arti- 

 ficial manure manufacturer that has been difficult to 

 buy with the same advantage as other ingredients. The 

 steady state of the brimstone market has caused the acid- 

 maker to be cautious in making his contracts ; but where 

 barytes can be burnt, as in many of the provincial cities, of 

 course this remark does not apply. A few contracts for 

 brimstone-made acid were made early in the autumn for im- 

 mediate delivery as low as O^d. per lb., with 26 per cent, dis- 

 count ; but now it is not easy to buy within 5 per cent, of this 

 price. Acid made from barytes has been sold considerably 

 under £4 per ton. 



OILSEED CAKES. 



Linseed cakes have been imported to a liberal extent 

 throughout the year, but owing to the very low price of all 

 descriptions of grain, they have been a forced sale at a com- 

 parative value with other feeding commodities, and at a loss 

 to the importer. The present open weather has been much 

 against the usual winter demand, and when prices are 

 expected to improve. The finest American cake in barrels 

 is worth £10 5s. to £10 lOs.; and in bags, £9 7s, 6d. to 

 £0 15s. per ton. 



Cotton seed cakes of American make, called decorticated, 

 or crushed, with the husk taken off the seed, are much in 

 favour with the leading feeders, and full prices have been 

 paid for all that have come to market. At the present time 

 there are none here, and £7 lOs. was the last price paid. 



Rape cakes are now scarcely inquired for, for feeding 

 purposes, the supply being almost entirely from home 

 crushed seed, which is generally more or less heated. Only 

 one cargo of the green sort has been imported throughout 

 the year. John Keen, Agent. 



35, Leadenhall-,street, E.G. 



