BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 23 
ture shows conclusively that there is no one thing which tends more 
strongly to excite an interest in the sciencés bearing upon agriculture, 
among the farmers of a district, than the introduction into its markets 
of really good fertilizing materials. 
There would seem to be a simple method of overcoming the 
present difficulty, namely, by procuring importations from Europe of 
guaranteed fertilizers of good quality and encouraging the sale of such 
fertilizers in small packages, as well as by the usual large quantities. 
If a powerful society were to engage in this work, it would probably 
be easy to force up the standard of the American manufacturers to 
the proper degree, and to introduce the system of selling by war- 
ranty. 
The usual German standards for superphosphates. are ten, fifteen, 
and twenty per cent of soluble phosphoric acid, according as the 
superphosphate has been made from a mineral product, from bone- 
black, or from a phosphatic guano. As to the price of such materials, 
I can only say that I wrote in the spring of 1871 to Dr. L. C. Mar- 
quart, of Bonn, a responsible chemical manufacturer with whom I have 
had frequent dealings, asking the terms upon which he could deliver 
superphosphate alongside ship at Rotterdam. He replied in these 
words : — 
“ With regard to superphosphate of lime, I have corresponded with the 
most respectable houses of that branch, and am able to offer you as fol- 
lows: Superphosphate containing 
10% of soluble phosphoric acid, at 5s. 4d. per cwt. (English.) 
15 6“ “cc 66 66 8 S. 5 d. 66 6c 
20 66 c 6b &“ 10 Ss. 6 d. 66 66 
Free at Rotterdam, packages included, against short remittance on London. 
If you wish to get a merchandise of more or less per cent, the price will be in 
proportion. ‘The contents of not soluble phosphoric acid which is existing in 
the superphosphate of lime will not be taken into consideration ; the soluble 
acid, however, will be warranted. 
“ Very truly bees or x 
. C. MARQUART. 
’ I may here mention an observation of some interest that may per- 
haps serve to place the subject of artificial manures in a new light, 
and to illustrate one at least of their merits. 
