24 AMERICAN MANURES. 



impunity, is due to the fact of the secrecy with 

 which all their operations are conducted. 



There is a sort of free-masonry preserved 

 among them. In securing a customer, one of 

 the standard phrases of the trade is, " We do 

 not commend our article by giving another 

 manufacturer a bad naifce." 



No, dear reader. They do not speak ill of 

 each other. What other business can boast the 

 possession of this virtue in such an eminent 

 degree? But withhold your admiration a mo- 

 ment, dear reader. "When rogues fall out, 

 honest men get their due." These manufacturers 

 live in glass houses, and throwing stones might 

 endanger their own property. 



This unity, and secrecy, in connection with 

 the pressing wants of our farmers, have given 

 them facilities for accumulating princely fortunes 

 by practices that may be styled anything but 

 honest, while at the same time making loud- 

 mouthed pretensions of all the liberal virtues. 



This may seem unnecessarily severe ; but were 

 it less so, it might fail in awakening a proper 

 sense of the impositions that are practised upon 

 the most deserving part of the community, those 

 who furnish us bread. 



One of the proofs of the dishonesty of some of 

 the manufacturers may be found in their lying 

 circulars and pamphlets, which are full of 



