284 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



bone remains long in the soil, I yet retain a good deal of pluck 

 on that bone-dressing, but see no good yet. 



By this time, it will be understood, that, commercially view- 

 ing the matter, our ambition for -experimenting has collapsed; 

 not that our faith in bones, superphosphate, lime, ashes, plaster, 

 fish and other substances has in the slightest degree abated, but 

 we scarcely know how to characterize the scoundrels who will 

 grind sand, oyster-shells, or other comparatively worthless trash, 

 with which to adulterate, and thereby cheat confiding purchasers. 



That that sort of swindling has been and is now carried on to 

 an alarming extent is evinced by the universal testimony of all 

 who have purchased commercial manures to any considerable 

 extent. Ask whom we may, almost every one will acknowledge 

 he has been victimized. On that point we desire to cite the 

 testimony of others, some of whom write with much emphasis, 

 having written to our associates on the Committee, and others, 

 requesting them to relate their experience, or any facts which 

 would be useful or interesting in making up this Report. 



I will first introduce Mr. Boise, of Blandford. In his reply, 

 he writes : " I have long since condemned all commercial ma- 

 nures. Money expended for them is, in many instances, capital 

 thrown away." 



Mr. Boise has evidently, like more of us, been swindled by 

 some of the patent manure vendors. He (Boise) puts it rather 

 strong, in our judgment ; yet, as things have gone and are still 

 going, he has evidently chosen the safer side. There is no 

 danger of getting swindled in that direction so long as one 

 fails to purchase. 



Should any vendor leave with Mr. Boise some samples for 

 trial, no doubt the quality would be such that he would reap 

 a fair reward for time spent in the distribution. 



John A. Morton, Esq., of Hadley, also of the Committee on 

 Commercial Manures, writes as follows : " We use a large 

 amount in this town of those manures — mostly fish and 

 Peruvian guano. Formerly we used superphosphate of lime, 

 poudrette, &c. ; but those articles have mostly played out. I 

 have used all of those humbugs, and have made up my mind 

 they do not pay. I use lime and ashes, and compost with 

 peat and manure — which pays. Peruvian guano, used for a 



