422 



The Neglect of Chemistry by Practical Farmers. 



investigation, even the practical farmer need not, I think, be 

 afraid of being considered a theorist, should he believe it probable 

 that some good might arise from the united observations of 

 farmers, when compared with the researches of chemists, par- 

 ticularly when we call to mind the great revolution that has 

 already taken place in farming during the last few years, caused 

 by the introduction of guano, and the practical discovery by 

 Liebig of the superphosphate of lime ; which latter, as though to 

 show of what service chemistry may ultimately prove to practical 

 agriculture, is now largely manufactured from fossil coprolites. 



But I also venture further to think that I can show that such 

 tables as these may be of great use, even to those who may be too 

 prejudiced to believe that any good can possibly arise from the 

 before-mentioned researches, and this by affording a standard, by 

 means of which the genuineness of any manure, &c., may be 

 ascertained. Take the case of guano, for example (for I suppose 

 that even the most -practical farmer makes use of this manure). 

 If the farmer, before making a large purchase, were to have a 

 sample analysed by some competent chemist, the charge for which 

 would be comparatively trifling, he would, by comparing the 

 result obtained with the mean composition of the guano of similar 

 description, as given in these tables, be able at once to discover 

 whether it had been adulterated, or if it exceeded an average 

 guano in value, on account of the larger proportion of valuable 

 ingredients present ; and that this caution is not Avholly unneces- 

 sary, is evidenced by the statement of Professor Way, wherein he 

 asserts, that thousands of pounds are annually expended by 

 farmers in the purchase of spurious manures. One specimen 

 that he analysed, and which was extensively sold at £8 per ton 

 (the price of guano), consisted of nothing more or less than 

 j^ounded red sandstone ; in fact, manufactories are known to be 

 springing up daily, for the sole purpose of compounding such 

 spurious manures. 



In conclusion, I have to beg for the kind indulgence of my 

 readers, with respect to any accidental errors that may be dis- 

 covered in these tables, and would feel obliged if they would 

 forward an account of the same, with a view to their correction ; 

 for although I have taken the precaution of testing the correctness 

 of the reductions of nearly all the analyses and tables that I have 

 referred to (which I found necessary, from the numerous misprints 

 and other errors I discovered in them), yet the fact of my being 

 obliged to do so, gives me the less confidence in the absolute 

 correctness of my own figures ; in fact, it is nearly impossible to 

 avoid all error in a work involving such a mass of calculation ; 

 and this being the first attempt at arranging methodically the 

 various subjects connected with the chemistry of agriculture, it 



