72 



each of the returns the use of commercial fertilizers is reported, and the 

 proportions indicated are 56 per cent, against 40 per cent, of farm-yard 

 manure. Queen Anne reports that they are used freely, principally 

 superphosphates, in the wheat-crop, and that even when wheat is low 

 they pay well, as they will double the succeeding crop; Charles, that 90 

 per cent, of all fertilizers are commercial, and are specially profita- 

 ble on the after-crop of clover for improvement of land ; GaU'Crt, CO 

 per cent., mostly Peruvian guano and superphospates, and profitable for 

 the tobacco-crop ; Montgomery, also 60 per cent., and Caroline 50, and 

 profitable in both ; Harford, that they are the principal fertilizers used, 

 by far tbe largest part being bone-dust, and deemed profitable at about 

 $42 per ton; Carroll, that bone-fertilizers are profitable, but none oth- 

 ers; Washington, that bone-fertilizers are profitable on all soils. On 

 the other hand, in Worcester, though 67 per cent, of all fertilizers are 

 commercial, they are deemed unprofitable — "in many instances the re- 

 sult has been injurious to the land and disastrous to its cultivator;" in 

 Talbot, though the chief reliance is on them, they are "not always profit- 

 able;" in Prince George, about 10 i)er cent, of the fertilizers are com- 

 mercial, chiefly used on tobacco, but now so adulterated as not to be 

 j)rofitable : and in Cecil the price is found too high to to admit of much 

 profit. 



Fifty-four returns from Virginia indicate that 40 to 50 per cent, of 

 the fertilizers used are commercial. They are largely used on special 

 crops, as tobacco, wheat, and garden-truck. Gypsum and lime, or shell- 

 marl, are extensively used with special reference to the production of 

 clover and grass crops. The general tone of returns indicates a profit' 

 able use for these special purposes, (and especially crops for market 

 on which i)rofit largely depends on early maturity,) but not for general 

 farming. The following extracts, among others, show the direction in 

 which tihe views of advanced farmers are tending in respect to the use of 

 different fertilizers : 



Sussex : Onr best farmers now use all their available means in the making of farm-yard 

 manures and composts, and are realizing conmensurate advantages from such efforts. 

 It has become a fixed belief among our farmers that the commercial fertilizers give no 

 really profitable ratnrn, and only embarrass with debts which all the crops made by 

 using them barely liquidate. Henrico: Peruvian guano and superphosphates largely 

 used, but bone-dust yields better results than any fertilizer except farm-yard manure. 

 Fowhatan : Profitable on tobacco, followed by wheat, if combined with farm-yard 

 manure. Lunenhurgh : Commercial fertilizers are mostly used, but are less profitable 

 than farm-yard manure. Loudoun : Extensively used, but, gypsum excepted, the im- 

 pression is gaining ground that they do not pay. 



AYith respect to their advantageous use in grass-culture the report 

 from Montgomery states: " Farmers have been very successful in set- 

 ting grass on exhausted lands bj^ drilling in fertilizers with wheat. 

 Lime gives good results, and a clover-crop is increased 50 to 100 per 

 cent, sowing plaster." In Westmoreland, though for the last few years 

 they have yielded little if any direct profit, "still, considering the im- 

 ])roved condition of the laud and its increased adaptation to the cul- 

 tivation of grasses, the use of them is regarded as judicious;" in She- 

 nandoah, they are deemed profitable in securing good stands of grass ; 

 in Wythe, profitable from the certainty with which grass, sown Avith 

 wheat, sets; in Chesterfield, gypsum is least expensive and most effect- 

 ive, especially on clover and peas; in Prince Edward, desirable on clo- 

 ver and the grapes. The tide-water regions find fish a great resource 

 in fertilizing. In several counties the use of commercial fertilizers has 

 been abandoned on account of frauds ; in a large number they are re- 

 ported unprofitable without qualification. 



