4 VOELCKER OTi the Value of Artificial Manures. 



manufacturer and purchaser. It is but right, however, to men- 

 tion that it is far from us to censure indiscriminately the whole 

 class of manure-manufacturers and dealers ; for we know many 

 highly respectable fair-dealing and skilled parties who well 

 deserve the support and encouragement of the agriculturist, and 

 who are as anxious as every right-minded person to put a stop 

 to the scandalous proceedings which are now and then revealed 

 to us through the medium of the agricultural press, but which, 

 alas ! but too often remain buried in darkness. 



During the past season we have had the opportunity of be- 

 coming practically acquainted with several instances of gross 

 fraud, which cannot fail to startle the unsuspecting. The pub- 

 lication of several of the subjoined cases lately brought under our 

 notice, we trust, will address a word of caution to the agricul- 

 turist, and have the effect of protecting him from imposition, by 

 helping to put a stop to the fraudulent dealings of the unprin- 

 cipled, and by giving encouragement to the honest and skilful 

 manufacturer of artificial manures. 



Before entering into details, hawever, we may be permitted 

 to make a few general observations on the practical efficiency 

 and commercial value of manures. 



The effects which a manure is capable of producing on vege- 

 tation, it is evident, mainly depend on its constituents ; and as 

 the composition of the various fertilizers usually employed for 

 restoring the impaired fertility of the land greatly varies, their 

 effects on vegetation necessarily must vary likewise considerably. 

 In well-made farmyard manure all the elements are found which 

 are required for the healthy and luxuriant growth of all the dif- 

 ferent cultivated plants. Practical experience having shown 

 that all the different kinds of vegetable products can be greatly 

 increased by the application of farmyard-manure, it is justly 

 esteemed as a universal manure. But this is not the case with 

 many artificials, which, containing a preponderating amount of 

 one or two fertilizing constitutents, and a deficiency of others, 

 often fail to produce any marked effects on some crops, whilst 

 their application to others is followed with the most beneficial 

 results. Indeed, most artificial manures are characterised by a 

 specific action : some exercise a highly beneficial effect on root- 

 crops ; others on a grain-crop, or on pasture-land. Hence they 

 are, called special manures. Thus, whilst superphosphate of 

 lime produces striking results on turnips and root-crops in 

 general, its effects on wheat, oats, or barley are less apparent. 

 Again, whilst nitrogenized and ammoniacal manures, such as 

 guano, soot, nitrate of soda, animal refuse matters, &c., favour 

 in a special manner the abundant produce of wheat, oats, or 

 barley, they do not, like phosphatic manures, promote the de- 

 velopment of bulbous roots, such as swedes or mangolds, to an 



