214 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



(S. W. J. TO J. 0.) 



[October 10, 1877] I regret to differ from yourself and 

 from Mr. Lawes and Dr. Liebig on so important a subject 

 [the valuation of fertilizers]. To me the whole subject ap- 

 pears to be very simple. The valuation merely touches the 

 question of price in market, as far as that depends upon the 

 trade-value of ingredients. If a fertilizer has or is thought 

 to have a value beyond this, depending upon some secret of 

 compounding, or established reputation, there is no objection 

 to those who believe in such superiority paying for it, but for 

 those who have no faith in, or do not care to pay for such 

 advantages, the "valuation business" is a simple and safe 

 guide to purchase by. Such is the record of twenty years in 

 this State. Honest dealers do not complain of it, but support 

 it heartily, because it stops the occupation of quacks and 

 swindlers and establishes confidence between buyer and seller. 



We use great care in securing samples that accurately 

 represent the articles we investigate, and our analyses are 

 invariably duplicated so that mistake is made well-nigh im- 

 possible. On the other hand our dealers and manufacturers 

 (in the State) are very careful to know what they offer and 

 to offer only that which sustains a good reputation. The 

 valuation business would be of no use here were all the fertili- 

 zers, so-called, that come into our market made honestly and 

 intelligently. The fact that parties destitute of one or both 

 these standard virtues seek custom in this State renders the 

 valuation business a necessity, and I believe that with us it 

 is an advantage to all concerned. . . . Yours most truly, 



S. W. Johnson. 



(S. W. J. TO L.) 



[October 10, 1877] I am certain that although the valua- 

 tion system may not always have been justly applied, it always 

 may be, and that consumers cannot spare it. 



