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THE GKNESEE FARMER. 867 ''^' 



tbem that phospluate of lime and sulphate of aramonia, in the proper proportions, are 

 worth twice as much as I'eruvian guano, why do they buy upwards of 151,000 tons of 

 guano a year and pay $i5 per ton for it, when they can buy burnt bones, or animal 

 charcoal for $18 per ton, and sulphate of ammonia for 8G0; for we presume "the proper 

 proportions" of Prof. Mapes would give much more of the phosphate of lime than of the 

 sulphate of ammc>.nia, so that this manure, of phosphate of lime and ammonia, could be 

 made *V)r less money than the guano. And if long experience has taught them that it is 

 woith twice as much as guano, it is surprising that they use so much guano and so 

 little of the mixture — so little, indeed, that we have never heard the manure men- 

 tioned. The assertion that such a manure "sold readily" at $100 per ton, but cannot 

 be made for that sum, is most cert^iinly a mistake. 



Muriate of ammonia sells readily at llOO per ton, and from the high per centage of 

 ammonia it contains, it is a cheap manui'e at that ; but an addition of phosphate of lime 

 would reduce its value in exact ratio as it was mixed with it. That this is the case, is 

 most obvious from the fact that ammonia cannot be purchased in any portable form for 

 less than twelve cents per pound, whereas phosphate of lime can be obtained in unlimited 

 quantities as a mineral phosjiliate for less than one cent per pound, and in animal 

 charcoal for thirteen mills per pound, and the price is gradually felling — large quantities, 

 the refuse of beet sugar manufactories, which are now in a very flourishing condition, 

 being sent over from Germany and France. 



Sulpliui'ic aciil can be purchased in London for less than half what it costs in New 

 York, and sulphuric acid is the expensive ingredient in the manufacture of superphos- 

 phate of lime. Such being the facts, what becomes of Prof. Mapes' assertion that his 

 improved superphosphate of lime cannot be duplicated in England for less than twice 

 its cost in New York. 



According to an analysis now before us of "Mapes' Improved Superphosphate of 

 Lime," by Thomas Antisell, M. D., New York, it appears that 53 lbs. in the 100 of 

 this manure consist of burnt bones or animal charcoal little acted on hy the sulphuric 

 acid, the value of which, in New York, would be about $10 per ton ; the other 47 lbs. 

 contain about 22 lbs. phosphate of lime, 8 lbs. sulphuric acid, half a pound epsom salts, 

 4 lbs. water, 3 lbs. lime and silica, and 10 lbs. organic matter and alkaline salts soluble 

 in water. If such is the composition of the "improved superphosphate of lime" — and 

 judging from the appearance of the. article, we have no doubt of the correctness of the 

 analysis — to say that such a compound cannot be made in England at $100 per ton, is at 

 best supremely ridiculous. We think we could manufacture such an article there for $30 

 per ton and realize a handsome profit at that ; though we doubt the possibility of sellino- 

 it for $20 per ton, unless, indeed, we started an agricultural paper and devoted its pages to 

 pufiing the stuft'. And, even in that case, we should need a new list of subscribers each 

 year ; for though English fanners are not very bright, they do not patronize the same 

 humbug more than once. 



In another part of the same number of the Working Farmer, Prof. Mapes, speaking 

 of the large orders received for this manure this fall, says : 



"The old wheat districts are again profitable where the Improved Superphosphate of Lime has 

 Lceii applied ; all agree with our former statements, that 500 lbs. of the new manure is as effective 

 aa 40 half corda (two-horse wagon loads) of well rotted stable manure, while its cost does not equal 

 the mere expenses of handling the barnyard manure." 



We have repeatedly advised our readers to make as much manure on their farms as 

 possible. If they have done so, it appears it will be good economy to give it to some of 

 their unscientific, book-despising neighbors, and send to New York and get 500 lbs. of 

 "Mapes' improved phosphate of lime" to supply its place. Verily, this great discovery 

 bids fair to revolutionize the established practice of agriculture. 



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