Commercial Value of Artificial Manures. 
285 
paratively speaking, valueless materials reduce the money-value, 
is presented to us in farmyard-manure. One ton of fresh yard- 
manure of fair average quality, I find, contains : — • 
s. d. 
lbs. of soluble phosphate of lime, worth, at 3'i. per lb 1 7i 
8^ lbs. of insoluble phosphate of lime, worth, at Id. per lb. ..0 8 J 
12J lbs. of potash, worth, at M. per lb 3 1 J 
15 lbs. of ammonia, worth, at 6c?. per lb 7 G 
Total 12 11^ 
Whilst, thus, the calculated value of farmyard-manure is nearly 
Ids. per ton, its real commercial value is about 5s. per ton. 
Again, before certain manures could be obtained that are now 
specially prepared to suit particular soils or particular crops, 
enterprising and intelligent manufacturers have frequently in- 
curred heavy expenses in trying all kinds of fertilising mixtures 
before they succeeded in ascertaining the states of combination, 
and the relative proportions in which these should be com- 
bined in order to produce the best practical results. It is, 
therefore, but fair that those who profit by these researches 
should repay the manufacturer for the tima, skill, and expense 
which he has bestowed upon the production of such special 
manures. In estimating the money-value of such fertilisers this 
ought to be taken into consideration, and allowance be made for 
more than the mere market-price of the several uncombined in- 
gredients. 
Perhaps it may be suggested that all these observations only 
tend to show the inability of the chemist to give a reliable esti- 
mate of the money-value of a manure. I openly confess concur- 
rence in this sentiment if the name of " chemist " is applied to a 
mere human analysing and calculating machine, or even to a 
purely theoretical man of science ; but strongly repudiate it if it 
indiscriminately refers to every chemist. 
The errors committed by purely theoretical men, and the care- 
lessness and ignorance of others who call themselves agricultural 
chemists, show incapacity in individuals ; but they do not prove 
that men who, without presumption, may lay claim to the office 
of an agricultural chemist, are not in a position to render most 
useful services to the farmer by informing him whether the 
manures sent for examination are cheap, dear, or moderate, at 
the price at which they are offered for sale. Unquestionably, a 
considerable amount of commercial and agricultural knowledge 
as well as judgment, and the fixed determination neither to 
favour producer or consumer, are quite as essential qualifications 
in an agricultural chemist as analytical skill ; but those agricul- 
