162 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



THE MANURE TRADE. 



No better proof can be afforded of the attention paid 

 to agriculture in „Great Britain, than the extent and 

 value of the trade in manures. "We allude particularly 

 to the imported fertilizers and artiticial manures, the 

 aggregate value exceeding two millions a year. The in- 

 creased demand for these substances has called into 

 activity many individuals and companies who make a 

 business of importing, preparing, vending and analyzing 

 manures ; while many shipping firms have directed 

 their attention specially to the subject, and given 

 employment to a considerable amount of tonnage. The 

 growing interest and importance of the trade is mani- 

 fest from the number of manure circulars now issued 

 and the interest taken in every new source of phos- 

 phates, and the increased manufacture of sulphuric 

 acid. 



That this has become an important department of 

 commerce is manifest from the fact that last year, be- 

 sides about 140,000 tons of guano used, 80,000 tons of 

 bones and bone ash, and 25,000 tons of nitrate of soda 

 •were imported, besides nitrate of potash, rapecake, and 

 and some few other foreign substances! When we take 

 into consideration the superphosphates, salt, soda ash, 

 gypsum, coprolites, and many patent or, compound 

 manures, the extent of the trade may be judged ot. 



It is satisfactory to find, from the remarks of Mr. 

 John Keen, that while the sales of guano were in 1859 

 far short of any former years, substitutes can be ob- 

 tained, 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, however highly that manure may be 

 appreciated. The manufacture of superphosphate of 

 lime appears to be extending over the kingdom ; and 

 hence bones, coprolites, brimstone, and barytes are in 

 increased demand. 



The Spanish apatite, which is likely now to be made 

 extensively available, will prove of great importance to 

 the manure trade. The difficulty of transport to the 

 coast for shipment, which was reported some years ago 

 by Dr. Daubeny to be fatal to its extensive introduction, 

 is now likely to be removed. Indeed, a few small car- 

 goes have already arrived. From its solubility and 

 freedom from carbonate of lime, it will prove one of 

 the best sources of phosphates yet discovered. The in- 

 exhaustible deposits at Logrosan, in Estremadura, have 

 long been known to scientific men ; but arrangements 

 have now been made for the conveyance of the stone to 

 the coast. In a year or two a railway, now in course 

 of construction, and passing within a few miles of the 

 hills, will convey tlie fossil at a cheap rate to the Tagus. 

 The enormous extent of the deposits, the cheapness at 

 which they can be worked and shipped, and their proxi- 

 mity to this country, render it probable that this article 

 will in time supersede all other phosphates now used 

 by manure manufacturers. 



Some observations occur in the circular of Mr. 

 J. F. Boyd, which are well worth quoting here : — 

 " When the attention of agriculturists was a few 

 years since fairly roused to the necessity and advantage 

 of assisting the soil with preparations containing those 

 chemical elements which science had long shown to be 

 necessary for the purpose of restoring to the land the 

 same elements abstracted from it by the crops, the de- 

 mand thus created did not gradually and slowly assume 

 its present proportions, but almost at once became very 



gi'eat ; hence a field was suddenly opened for the em- 

 ployment of capital, and the large profits notoriously 

 reaped by the iew who first engaged in the business 

 speedily attracted numbers to supply the new want. 

 Not satisfied with legitimate means of making money, 

 very many took advantage of the existing state of 

 things to furnish a class of articles which were fre- 

 quently worse than worthless, and found no difficulty 

 in Ibisting them upon farmers at incredible prices. 

 Those respectable firms who would not resort to such 

 practices, were at that time satisfied with sending out 

 goods very inferior to those supplied in the present day. 

 The system of adulteration spread from year to year, 

 and attained its full proportion in 1857, when the con- 

 sumption exceeded that of any year before or since. By 

 this time farmers began to complain loudly of the im- 

 positions which had been practised upon them ; and a 

 heavy fall in the prices of grain before the next season 

 (that of 1858) setting in, completely changed the 

 aspect of affairs. In that year the demand suddenly 

 became very much smaller. Farmers not having money 

 to spare, began to consider whether they could not 

 dispense with so much manure as they had been ac- 

 customed to buy ; and the result was that at the close 

 of the season very large stocks remained in the hands 

 of the makers all over the kingdom. Last year the 

 respectable portion of the trade found it advisable to 

 offi3r the attractions of improved quality and lower 

 prices, and the present custom of guaranteeing the 

 analysis furnished to the buyer was very generally in-_ 

 trodueed. The consequence is that very many of the 

 doubtful firms have been completely driven out of the 

 trade, and farmers have reason to think more favour- 

 ably of the good manures which are now so universally 

 sold. Prices are unquestionably much lower, and the 

 margin of profit much less; but this was to be natu- 

 rally expected to happen some day or other. Manu- 

 facturers find their true interest to lie in supplying 

 first-rate goods ; and, confidence being restoi'ed, there 

 is reason to anticipate a healthy and sound future." 



In some of the continental states the use of bones for 

 fertilizing purposes appears to be on the increase ; and 

 hence the supplies from Europe are not so large as 

 they formerly were. Still considerable quantities are 

 received at Hull, where the imports last year amounted 

 to 20,381 tons, including 4,618 tons of bone-ash. This 

 was nearly one-third of the whole import. From 

 Russia large quantities are shipped, since a paragraph 

 in our columns last week states that one St. Peters- 

 burgh merchant, who has dealt in bones all his life, 

 ships about 1,800 tons annually to foreign countries. 

 It is satisfactory to find that when old sources of sup- 

 ply for this useful substance fails, others are available. 

 Thus, from the South American States and the Colonies, 

 we nowdraw considerable supplies, which are fully ade- 

 quate to the demand, and keep jjrices moderate. 



Mr. Braithwaite Poole, the manager of the London 

 and North Western Hallway at Liverpool, after careful 

 investigation and numerous inquiries, estimated, a few 

 years ago, the quantity of farmyard or animal manure 

 used in the country at 90,000,000 tons, worth 

 £■■20,000,000 sterling ; but this forms a very small pro- 

 portion of the manure now used for our soils. Another 

 well-known statist, Mr. McLure, twenty years ago, 

 calculated the quantity of animal or farmyard manure 

 available annually in the kingdom at 329,300,000 tons, 



