MURIATE OF LIMB. . 207 



facility, but I can see how any one can make a failure in an 

 attempt of that kind. 



•Mr. Boise, I would also like to ask what is the commercial 

 analysis of a fertilizer sent out to the members of the Board the 

 past season, under the name of the " Bay State Fertilizer." 

 AVhat is the value of that ? 



Dr. Nichols. I am not acquainted with that. There are 

 very many of these different substances. I received last even- 

 ing, just as I was leaving home, a circular from a party who is 

 ' manufacturing " Caploophite," for fertilizing purposes. I do 

 not know what he means by it, but I was quite amused wkile 

 passing up in the cars and reading it over, to see the ignorance 

 and impudence of the man who offers it for sale, or rather, who 

 offers to sell rights to make it. He has got quite a quantity of 

 testimonials ; you know testimonials accompany all these things ; 

 but there is not a single chemical combination involved in this, 

 that has any sort of basis to rest upon. I should judge from 

 appearances, that the right to make this article might be very 

 extensively sold. 



Mr. Wetherell. You spoke of farmers combining to man- 

 ufacture their own fertilizers. Could not that be done by farm- 

 ers forming associations, and thus cheering each other on ? 



Dr. Nichols. Oh, yes, sir. I think that is a very hopeful 

 view to take of it. I think that farmers could combine and 

 purchase a mill, grind their own bones, and make their own 

 fertilizers. Quite a number of such- companies exist in Eng- 

 land, and they have been very successful indeed. 



Colonel Wilder. An article called '.' Muriate of lime " has 

 been sold in considerable quantities in Massachusetts, and some 

 very good testimonials are presented in relation to it. Have 

 you any knowledge of that ? 



Dr. Nichols. It is an entirely inert substance. It is not 

 worthy of a moment's consideration. It is not a manure. 



Mr. k^LADE. The conclusion I draw from the manner in 

 which you renovated your farm was, that it was much more 

 economical than to have bought stock, hay and grain, and 

 renovated it in tliat way. The question that I would like to 

 ask is this : whether, if you were now farming it, and intended 

 to farm it for years to come, exclusively for profit, it would nut 



