ADULTERATION OF MANURES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2944, 28 May 1891, Page 3

ADULTERATION OF MANURES.

Tub following able and instructive paper j upon "Manures and Tleir Adulteration ' ; was re id by Mr l > rugh, at til" meeting of j tho Hamilton liianeli of the Weikato . Farmers' Club 011 Monday evening las'". In ! a district, where such 1 11'ge ipi.mi i f fs ot artificial manures are used, and with Miceitaintyof a! r.:" i'lere ;-ing denand for these commodities in \icw of the stability of the wool and frozen 11v.it market, there cannot be a subject of greater interest, to farmers in Wa'kato, and one neee lie-erv-iug ot I hell" elo-est iltl'M 1 'on than lilis subject of 111 mures. To Mr liarugh is due the ere 111 ..f being the fii-t to .Jr.vv at'ention to the aduleiatiou of nrtitieial manures, which cau-ed such a stir throughout. Ihii prosiuce a year or two ago, and which has since been th : means of siving such a large sum to the farni 'is. directly in the reduced cost, and indirectly in the greater genuineness of the ailiele supplied ; — The importance of small quantities "f i;nme organic and some ioorganic manures ill improving the fertility of the has Ilow been recognised t.r in my veils. This recognition' begin perhaps by ili-eo\ei ing the great llse of sin il! flll mtiiies of an organic production. The . 11-1 icl• • to which I allude is bono, and the wonderful effects of small quantities of bono scorned in danger of toppling muck from its pinnacle of preeminence. It is not so very long ago when it was considered that all vegetable growth proceeded from tho soil, and was produced by decaying vegetable mttter, and what was called humus was credited with all vegetable production. I do not know exactly when this theory was exploded, but lecollect very well when I first saw it replaced by another, and that was in Liebig's Organic Chemistry in its application to agriculture. 11l that work I first learned that by far the greatest part of tho driod plants is dorived from the air, and of this all of us who have lived many years in tho world have had innumerable instances of corroborative demonstration. The greater part of the wood and coal that wo burn disappears up tho chimney, and if tho combustion wero perfect, there would not oven bo any smoko. Tll this manner the carbon, which forms the greatest part of tho wood or coal, re'inns to tint source from which it was derived. With tho oxcoption of water, and perhaps most of tho nitrogen, the small quantity of ash left 111 tho ash-pan is the greater part of what the plant derived from the earth. Although tiie ash is only a small part of the substance of a plant, It appears to bo a very important part. To supply tho plant with the mineral substances required in building up its structure where they n ay be deficient in the soil is one of tho things of most importance in tho application of manure. If tho plant cannot get what it requires by tho root, it refuses to take in tho carbon which is offered to it by tho air. It cannot bo persuaded to substitute one thing for another. If it cannot obtain the little bit of substanco necessary for its structure, you may offer it tons of somo of the other elements it feeds on, and it simply will not have them. I havo stated that tha greatest part mf all vogotablo productions is carbon, nnd I cannot forbear making a few remarks on the protean changes of this wonderful eleniont. T think about tho only Hubstanco in which it is presented to us by nature in one of its purest forms is tho diamond. In the form of charcoal, or a grimy half-burnt stick, both of which are principally carbon, we have S 'ln-thing of a very different appearance. Carbon, in combination with oxygon, forms carbonic acid gas. This gas is incapable of supporting life by breathing, and therefore is often fatal to human life, as the choke-damp ill coal mines ami by its accumulation at the bottom of old wells. Nevertheless, it gives UH great pleasure pi most of the beverages that wo drink. [' sparkles in and gives tho pleasant taste to a glass of cold water; Pressed into the water by artificial means, it gives the still sharper taste of what is mis-called sod 1 w'ater. Although so injurious to animal life in its unmixed form wlion inspired, it forms about the 0110 thousandth part of tho atmosphere which surrounds us. This is continually added to in that atmosphere by every breathing animal, by overy piece of decaying vegetation, and by every tiro that burns. The millions of tons of coal that are burnt are returning to the air millions of tons of carbon that they extracted from it perhaps millions of years ago. How is it that these vast polluting processes never pollute, and the atmosphere constantly maintains its salubrious and lifesupporting properties ? The vegetation which covers and adorns tho en th is continually extracting from tho air its superfluous carbon. The tender green leaf of tho plant is performing a wonderful chemical operation—it is dec unpo-ing t.ho carbonic acid of the atmosphere, taking tho carbon for its own use and returning tho lifo giving oxvgen to the air from whoneo it can,e. The comparatively sin-ill quantity of carbonic acid in choair appears to bo amply suliiei»nt for supporting the most luxurious \ egetat.ion- Although the amount of carbonic 'ici'l in the air is very small in comparison with nitrogen and oxygen, yet the aggregite is enormous — abundantly sufficient to supply all the carbon, andjfar more, than all that vegetation requires, llavmg stated that plants get the greatest part of their sobstanco frotn the atmosphere, and that without, difficulty, it appears that the causes which produce the difference between a sickly and a healthy vegetation wo must look for ill tho soil. By analysing the ashes of different plants, it appears that tho same species of plant, if grown under conditions where everything that it requires is available, always produces ashes of a similar composition. It thus appears that whatever is found in these asiies is necessary to the healthy growth of the plant. The greater part of tho constituents necessary for plant life are found iu tolerable abundance, but a few aro not so abundant. By far tho most important of these comparatively scarce elements is phosphorus. Jsy the aid of lime and phosphorus the vegetable world supplies the animal world with bono. It appears then that in tho economy of liaturo lime and phosphorus, in the form of phosphoric acid, have a most important part to play. Tiie magical effect of both those substances when applied to a soil in which they aro deficient has often been noticed by most practical farmers. Phosphorus and lime aro often found in combination in tho soil, and [ believe where they aro thus found in moro than the usual quantity tho soil is invariably very fertile. As all 111 v hearers know, it has beer, tho wonderful effects of small fjuantities of phosphate of lime in producing vigorous growth iu some plants, that has, more than anything else, called tho attention of farmers to the value of small quantities of manure. Other manures than the phosphates have also boon highly useful in small quantities. Such as tho of potash, nitrate of soda, and 'the combinations of nitrogen forming animal mutter. Here I may remark that the fertilizing effects of various combinations of nitrogen have been known from time iminorial, but previous to the researches of modern chemistry, the fertilizing effect of these manures were not known to arise from nitrogen. Notwithstanding the tremendous stock of nitrogen in tho atiiiostphere, very few plants seem to be able to appropriata it from that most abundant, source. It is as necessary as the phosphates in vegetable and animal structure. It is an essential part of all albuminoids, and these aro the vegetable products from which animal flesh is derived. Small quantities of manure containing nitrogen or phosphates havo been found to have a wonderful effect in producing vigorous growth iu some kinds of crops. In tuying these manures of which small quantities oftun havo such beneficial results, it is most important that wo should get the requisite article. The confidence of farmers has often been abused by fraudulent manure makers, and if the manure trade is not watched with vigilance, it will continually be abused. I believe the rogueries connected with it aro very much fewer in England than they were at one time; but from the record of the analyses peformed by the Royal Agricultural Society last year, they aro far too numerous yet, and it was not tiie farmers who would their manure to tho Royal Agricultural Society for analysis who would suffer most, but tho small farmers who mostly confido unreservedly in the men with whom they deal. In the courso of a long agricultural experience in England, I have seen, hoard, and read of much adulteration. There was at one timo, and I am afraid there is yet, a carelessness 011 the part of many farmers in buying, which invited unscrupulous manure makers to the practice of fraud. If the manure had passed through a manufacturer's or merchant s hands it seemed to some to have acquired an intrinsic value, whatovor its composition. I havo seen manure used for turnips which, 011 analysis, had scarcely any of tho requisite mamirial properties in it. I havo known t'.'i 10s per ton commission offered for the sale of manure which was to be sold at- .17 per ton. I have known what was professedly nitrate of soda sold in largo quantities which proved, on analysis, to be

tlirei'-f'inrtii-' e.emimn «alt. 1 liavn kii'Wn Miliniil nil tho bank "f a river, which had a iinvit rui.'inhlatice m colour t<> IVruvi'm Kiiano, Mipply a great qimitity of that, n inn to the fanners of the surrounding country. 11l fact, if I were t" name all tho rojjiH'rio-i in the manure tradf that I liavo s.-en or hoaiil 01, my paper would exliMtisi. your patience. In tlie midst of all this roguery there wore always many h"i>e<t, maker--, and these pveutuallv emerged from the ruck of ideality below them, and established lirm and abiding hiMiie.vfis, which, as well as being profitable to themselves, are a great benefit to the farmers who deal with them. There are now many such leakers, and one of the last roimrt- from England which I have read 011 the subject is, that the M inuro Manufactureis' As-n----ei 11 i 1111 odors oil the part of ita members to sell nil manures on guaranteed analysis. Thi< is .IS it should he, and tho attention which has been piiil to analysis for some years is gradually weeding out the rogues. I have often heard it said that farmers theinseNcs are to blame on account of their wishing for good manure at the lowest prircs. I fiil In see any reason for blame in that. To boy in the cheapest market is u hat everyone does ; hilt became the farmer does so, that is no p'smi why he should be -win,lle,i by being supplied with fraudulent 10 mines, lie never buys worthless m inure e\c pt the vendor sellsliim lies. If farmers p:,i,| all that was asked for manure with perfect trustfulness, there is not the slightest doubt that they would be lilty times n.ore imposed on in the future than thev evor have been in the past. I have only to name a notorious case in (his Auckland province, which is well known to you all, to show that dear manures are no guarantee of worth. There is no certain security against fraud but constant watchf dness, and the only satisfactory watchfulness that I can see, must be the constantly recurring analysis of manures. This is rather too expensive a business for any farmer to be continually resorting to, and the cost attending it is no doubt the reason why there are so few who resort to it. I do not consider for a moment that tho skilful analyst is overpaid for his work. The scientific knowledge, tho skill and accuracy required, tho perfection of the tools and chemicals employed, and the time required in the. various process, often make me wonder that good analysis are not more costly than they are. Some persons say, why do not the farmers learn chemistry, and analyse their soils and manures, and everything that requires analysing? I may tell such persons that although a very u-eful knowledge of chemistry may, and I h»»pe will, be attained by every child in Xew Zealand, a few only can attain the position of reliable analysts. To become so requires manipulation sodifficult, and chemical reagents so pure that no analysis by anyone who is not in constant practice could be relied on for a moment. Xo man can become a successful analyst without long practice, however advanced may he his theoretical knowledge of chemistry. Therefore to tho professional analyst we must always look for satisfactory analyses. The analyses that manure sellors exhibit when plying for cust mi are not much to bo depended on. The samples have mostly been prepared for analysis. Some of them are very much prepared, and I have always seen even with honest dealers some slight exaggeration with regard to tho quality of the bones they dealt in. The continual resort to analysis is too costly a method for defence asrainst fraud, for farmers individually to have to resort to. My family have had analysis made for them by the professors of tho Canterbury College, and always free of cost. It was through the analyses that we received from Canterbu-y, that the wretched character ot the manures supplied to ns by what professed to be an immaculate company was first discovered. These analyses Mr Pond's subsequent analyses abundantly confirmed. Tll another ease of adrlterated bonndu-t which my son objected to, Mr Por.d, by analysis, verv much more than justified the objection. We are, most of 11s, acquainted by experience with the very great practical value of somo of the ingredients which we suppose wo are getting in our manures. If wo are defrauded of these ingredients the loss is incalculable. If any farmor were so unfortunate as to be continually defrauded, I do not hesitate to say it would tnean irretrievable ruin to him if farming land like that of the Waikato. The loss to the land in the case of the phosphates is not only for one crop, but for many crops. It is a loss not only to the individual farmer, but to the entire community. If the man who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before is one of the greatest benefactors to his country, the fraudulent manure maker who renders that result impossible must bo one of tho greatest curses with which any country can bo inflicted. Xew Zealand must depend on its farming for generations to come. To attempt to bolster up any kind of manufacture by protective duties is robbing thousands of people for tiie benefit of a few hundreds. Bolstered up manufactures can never contend with unbolstered, therefore can never support a large population—a population that can give us a mirket for our produce ; but they inlliot on us high prices fur almost everything we want to buy. If New Zealand is to prosper it must prosper by successful farming. It is essential to successful farming that we should get what we require in our manures. Tho loss that has been sustained by fraudulent manure makers in England, has, I believe, amounted to many millions. By far tho greater part ot tho manure makers in England are, howevor, at the present time, trustworthy persons, but according to tlio last report of the chemists of tho Royal Agricultural Society there are far too many rogues yet, and unfortunately a small number of rogues bring a bad name on a large number of honest men. Tho rogues, too, are often successful salesmen. They never scruple at telling lies, and generally have glib tongues. There should be some method of summary redress for farmers, who, on ths authority of efficient analyses, have been supplied with an article inferior to the representations of the seller. The delinquent should be as_ summarily convicted of fraud, as the ordinary pickpocket is before a magistrate. The manure maker or merchant who knowingly supples his customers with fraudulent manure is a much worse delinquent than the pickpocket. If the farmer after trustworthy evidence, can only obtain redress by tho ordinary courts of law, such a certainly large expense, with most uncertain results, will always prevent the victims of fraud from pursuing triumphant roguery, by any such means. lam not aware of the methods by which adulteration has been mot, 111 tho countries whore thera has been legislation 011 the subject, but in several there has been such legislation. The means afforded by the ordinary courts of law are a delusion and a snare, and afford no protection what ever. I have heaid that we are to have a Minister of Agriculture. If this is really to bo the case, he can turn his attention to no hotter object, than the protecting of farmers from the machinations of fraudulent manure makers. For this purpose the Government should provido free or nearly free analyses to the farmer, and also a summary method of dealing with delinquents, who are often wealthy, and by that means can drag the prosecutor to ruinous expense, in tho ordinary legal processes. Tho interost of the honest manufacturers and the honest merchants, are as much on the side of purity in manure as are those of the farmer. The better the quality of our manures, the better will be the results, and the greater tho demand. The fraudulent manure dealer is doing nil he can to nullify the farmer's profits, and to ruin tho honest manufacturer's trade. He is 110 less than a national calamity of the most injurious class; therefore it should he the endeavour of all persons who havo the welfare of tho country at heart, to put a bit in his jaws, that may prevent his ruinous career. In making thoso remarks I am far from wishing to imply that there are very many manure manufacturers and dealers who are dishonest men. On the contrary, I believe that a very large majority are desirous to supply farmers with good manures, and as far as tho experience of my family with Auckland merchants extends, wo have been supplied with fairly good manures, and the test of analyses has been applied to several consignments of their manures of which the dealer and manufacturer to this day have no knowledge whatever, I am bound to say, however, that 111 the article of bones, although all the Auckland consignments were fairly good, the analytical value never accorded with the selling value, and proved that price was 110 guarantee of worth. In a batch of three samples of bones sent to Canterbury, the lowest priced proved the best on analyses, and we also thought produced very much the best results. Such experience as this I think thoroughly justifies the farmer in endeavouring to purchase good manures at the lowest price at which an honest article can be procured.