( 270 ) 
XV. — On Portable 3fanures and their Home Manufacture. 
By Arcuibald Smitu Maxwell. 
It is unnecessary for my present object to dilate upon the benefits 
which agriculture has derived from the use of portable manures, 
because experience has already set this point beyond dispute. 
The next point for consideration is how the farmer, who has the 
knowledge of the intrinsic value of manures, is to guard himself 
against imposture in his purchases. A remedy, it was believed, 
would be found in the general adoption by the manure trade of 
the practice of selling by analysis (accompanied with a written 
guarantee of the bulk delivered), undoubtedly the only true test 
of the real value of manures. Yet notwithstanding that farmers 
themselves took the initiative in this matter and forced the trade 
to adopt this measure, how few among them take the trouble to 
satisfy themselves that the manures purchased are actually of the 
quality represented, and commercially worth the price at which 
they are sold ! There is scarcely any district without its agri- 
cultural association or club, and surely in each a chemist is to 
be found at hand competent at least to detect any material de- 
preciation in the manurial value of an article from the original 
analysis. If by the report upon samples submitted to such 
chemist for examination suspicion be at any time aroused, 
recourse could then be had to an accredited analytical chemist 
for an accurate analysis of samples taken from the bulk, which, 
if found to come below the standard analysis on the faith of which 
the purchase is made, would lead to an adjustment of the dif- 
ference in value, or if the imposition be flagrant, the stuff would 
be returned and the result of the investigation made public. In 
Berwickshire this practice is in full operation, and has had a 
wonderful effect in checking fraud. 
While the test of analysis is destructive to the interests of 
adulteration, it acts as a protection and encouragement to the 
honest dealer. 
However desirable it may be that farmers should possess a 
general knowledge of agricultural chemistry, this is a study 
that demands more time and attention than most of them 
can well spare : it is, however, matter of surprise that so few 
make inquiry into the properties of the manures, which they 
apply in ignorance, and therefore cannot know how to use to the 
best advantage. An analysis is of little use merely to look at, 
to those who do not understand it or know how to calculate its 
worth. 
In now laying before the reader the ordinary method in practice 
of preparing manures, I do not wish it to be imagined that the 
