114 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



up to a reasonable standard of quality. One was an absolute 

 misnomer, it contained no superphosphate of lime. Only two 

 were at all worthy to rank under the name, and I must here 

 say that one of these superphosphates withstood a severe 

 test. ... Of all the other high-priced manufactured manures 

 which have been twice analyzed, not one has maintained a 

 uniform composition. In most cases the later analyses have 

 demonstrated a serious falling off in the quality of the article. 



So much for what has happened. Can we expect better or 

 worse treatment in the future? Doubtless the battle is but 

 just begun. The business is established, and new manufac- 

 tories will spring up like mushrooms. There is a class of 

 deceptions in all departments of trade which are not flagrant, 

 and have been overlooked and winked at until now they are 

 recognized as general and almost legitimate. It is your duty 

 and for your interest, farmers of Connecticut, to see that 

 there be not too many "tricks of the trade" introduced into 

 this new business. Abuses speedily get sanction, or get beyond 

 the reach and effect of remonstrance. If we do not master 

 them, they will master us. We must say to the dealers: "We 

 know what we want and you must fulfil your promises. "We 

 will not be humbugged either by your names or your prices. 

 If we cannot know what it is we buy, we will not buy at all. 

 "We will thankfully purchase from a fair dealer and pay him 

 a fair price ; but woe to him that attempts to defraud us ! 



There is but one way by which we can effectually protect 

 ourselves and be sustained in using the above language. It 

 is the resources of the science of chemistry which in their 

 recent development have made possible the judicious manu- 

 facture and use of concentrated fertilizers. It is the same 

 useful science which alone can reveal the frauds which may 

 creep into their preparation. It is principally the recogni- 

 tion of this truth which has led the chief Agricultural 

 Societies of Great Britain and Germany to employ scientific 

 men to analyze manures for their members. . . . This plan 

 works well in Great Britain because the British farmers who 



