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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



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ground coprolites, containing 55 per cent, bone-eartli phosphate, and sold for one cent 

 per pound. This is a good article, and is extensively used ; but there is some prejudice 

 against it in the minds of farmers, because it Is made from a mineral phosphate. 

 Another article, somewhat superior, manufactured from Saldanna bay guano, animal 

 charcoal, and bones, sells for one and a half cents per pound. 



Some time last year several deposits of nearly pure phosphate oi lime were discovered 

 in two or more districts in the United States, and the fact was extensively announced 

 as a great blessing to the agricultural community. We thought that it would be imme- 

 diately manufactured into superphosphate of lime, and sold to our farmers at a reason- 

 able price ; and that with it the growth of root crops would greatly extend. We were 

 indeed informed that arrangements had been made by the owners of the deposits for its 

 manufacture and sale, and accordingly recommended our readers to purchase and try it 

 as a manure for those crops which experience and experiment proved it would greatly 

 improve ; and also stated what crops it would not benefit, as found by direct and exten- 

 sive experiments in England. 



We have recently received two samples of superphosphate of lime, manufactured in 

 New York city, one called " improved superphosphate of lime," and the other, " super- 

 phosphate of Hme." Both are offered at the same price — two and a half cents per 

 pound. K the samples sent us are fair specimens of the articles, we should prefer the 

 plain superphosphate as a manure for root crops, from the fact that it is the best manu- 

 factured article ; the bones are all acted on by the acid, and the sample is in a finely 

 powdered state ; while the " improved" article contains quite a l.'.rge quantity of unde- 

 composed bones, or animal charcoal. We do not say that sufiicient sulphuric acid has 

 not been used, for indeed we know from experience that it is next to impossible to get a 

 good article of phosphate of lime from burnt bones, or animal charcoal, unless they are 

 reduced to a fine powder previous to the addition of the acid. The " improvement" is 

 stated to be the addition of Peruvian guano and sulphate of ammonia. For wheat crops 

 the addition of these substances is a great improvement, and the manure would be valu- 

 able for wheat in the exact proportion in which they made a part of its composition. 

 Good Peruvian guano should contain 16 per cent, of ammonia, and about 20 per cent, 

 of phosphate of lime. The commercial sulphate of ammonia, manufactured from gas 

 liquor, contains about 20 per cent, of ammonia. The superphosphate of lime, made 

 either from the mineral phosphate of lime or from animal charcoal, or burnt bones, 

 would contain no ammonia ; and the addition of sulphate of ammonia and guano, is to 

 supply this deficiency, and to make a manure that would correspond more with that 

 made from unburnt bones. 



In purchasing an artificial manure for the wheat crop, ammonia is decidedly the most 

 essential and expensive ingredient, and the price of the article is regulated by the quan- 

 tity which it contains. In England, phosphate of lime can be purchased for, and is 

 valued at, one and a half cents per pound, while ammonia cannot be purchased for less 

 than twelve cents per pound, and is really worth more. As a manure for turneps, how- 

 ever, a manure is valuable in the proportion it contains of bi-phosphate of lime — this 

 substance, from its solubility, having a most magical effect on that crop ; and it is to 

 convert the insoluble phosphate of lime into bi- or mjaer-phosphate, that sulphuric acid 

 is employed in the manufacture of the article. Soluble bi-phosphate of lime is valued 

 at eight cents per pound. 



If, however, we admit that phosphate of lime is a necessary ingredient in a, special 

 manure for wheat, Peruvian guano would at present be much the cheapest source of it ; 

 for, in addition to the 16 per cent, of ammonia, it contains 20 per cent, of phosphate of 

 lime in first rate condition for assimilation by the plant, as well as other fertilizing 

 ingredients of minor importance. As a manure for wheat, therefore, we greatly prefer 



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