INTRODUCTION. 27 



cost of about twenty five millions of dollars to 

 the farmer and planter. 



This fact shows that there must be a great 

 demand based on a great want of these fertilizers. 

 It also speaks well for the enterprise and pro- 

 gressive spirit of our farmers, that they are 

 willing to invest this enormous amount of money. 

 We shall show that this money expended does 

 not give a commensurate return, in a propor- 

 tional increase of the crops, and that nearly one 

 half of it goes into the pockets of the manu- 

 facturers as profits. 



But under present circumstances, how is the 

 farmer to know, at the time of making his 

 purchase of these manures, that he is getting a 

 good article, and the large amount he pays is a 

 good investment of his money ? As these man- 

 ures undergo no official inspection, he must 

 necessarily buy them on the strength of their 

 general reputation of being good, and the high 

 sounding recommendations of the manufacturers 

 and agents, with an array of glowing certificates 

 from farmers, who probably did not receive a 

 tithe of the benefit they should have received 

 for the amount of money expended. 



How is the farmer to know that the manure 

 manufactured this year, is not greatly inferior to 

 what was made the year before ? The writers 

 know that the value of manures of the same 



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