TAKEN IN ON SUPERPHOSPHATE. 285 



tobacco crop, will pay when we can get twenty-five or thirty 

 cents per pound for the tobacco. 



" Having recently conversed with many who use largely of 

 all kinds of commercial manures, they begin to express doubts. 

 One gentleman told me he paid out eight hundred dollars for 

 fish-guano, and that he did not believe it was worth two hun- 

 dred dollars to him. Our soil on the Connecticut River is deep 

 and rich, and by applying some of these stimulants we get large 

 crops. Where no other manure is used, however, the land is 

 running down ; hence I have concluded that the best way for 

 a Massachusetts farmer is to make all the manure he can by 

 composting, by scraping and saving everything that can be 

 converted into manure. Let farmers spend the money for 

 labor which they now expend for patent fertilizers — let that 

 extra labor be devoted to gathering and composting, and our 

 farms will produce better crops, and we shall be gainers by the 

 operation." 



We endorse the last paragraph, because it accords fully with 

 our own views. 



In reply to interrogatories sent to E. L. Metcalf, Esq., of 

 Franklin, Mass., the following, we trust, will be regarded as 

 to the point at issue : — 



" I will endeavor to give you my experience in special fertil- 

 izers for the past fifteen years, to the best of my ability. 



" We commenced using special manures in 1854. The first 

 bought was Prof. Mapes' superphosphate ; — used it two seasons ; 

 found the profit in the wrong place for us. In 1856 bought 

 two tons Peruvian guano, (it was pure in those days,) paying 

 $104 for the same at our door. This paid well, and we con- 

 tinued to use it until the price reached $65 per ton, with thirty- 

 five per cent, adulteration, making the cost 187.75. Here we 

 found the profit in the wrong place. About this time Coe's 

 superphosphate was introduced, ' warranted pure.' We bought 

 largely ; lost our money ; gave up its use. We next bought of 

 Bradley's agent, under a guarantee that it should be pure super- 

 phosphate. It was no better. We lost our temper in this in- 

 stance, and have bought none since. We have used the Lodi 

 night-soil manure. As it is made it does not pay present cost. 



" We have before us two samples of superphosphate sent us 

 by dealers, guaranteed to be pure. The acid test gives us thirty- 



