INVESTIGATIONS AT THE COLLEGE 59 



analyses of commercial fertilizers then being sold in 

 that state. 



As early as 1852 one notes references to the use of 

 Peruvian guano and superphosphate of lime in the 

 report of the Massachusetts State Board of Agricul- 

 ture. In 1865 Dr. James R. Nichols, 1 in an essay before 

 the State Board, discussed in an admirable way the 

 subject of plant-nutrition and made especial reference 

 to phosphate from bones, potash from ashes, and the 

 probability of plants taking their nitrogen from the air. 

 In 1868 Col. Mason C. Weld 2 delivered an address be- 

 fore the same society on Commercial Fertilizers, reflect- 

 ing the best knowledge of the day. He showed Peruvian 

 guano to be retailing for $62.50 a ton, superphosphate 

 of lime for $55, ground bone and ground fish for $45, 

 nitrate of soda for $120, and sulphate of ammonia for 

 $170. He also stated that many brands of highly 

 recommended fertilizer mixtures were being offered for 

 sale and were generally purchased by the poorest farm- 

 ers, whereas in Europe such conditions were reversed. 

 Dr. Nichols 3 delivered another address before the 

 State Board in 1870, entitled 'Manures, General and 

 Special.' He published a number of analyses made by 

 himself of ashes, fish, and several fertilizer mixtures, 

 and commented upon the high prices of many of these 

 substances and the frauds frequently practised. In 

 1871 another address by Nichols 4 followed, entitled 

 *Food of Plants and Sources of Supply,' which was 



1 Agriculture of Massachusetts, Fourteenth Report, p. 228. 



* Ibid., Sixteenth Report, p. 93. 



Ibid., Eighteenth Report, p. 179. 

 4 Ibid., Nineteenth Report, p. 80. 



