52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Dr. Nichols. So that it seems to me that in the use of 

 superphosphates, there ought not to be as many failures as 

 previously. In fact, superphosphates, as a whole, are improv- 

 ing. The commercial phosphates found for sale in the stores 

 are better than they were three or four years ago. I have 

 used, in making phosphates, refuse bone obtained from the 

 sugar-refineries, for which I have paid about ten dollars a 

 ton. I have now six or eight tons of that bone at my farm, 

 which I shall use between now and the time that I shall 

 require it on ray fields. I find that to be a very cheap source 

 for the procurement of the phosphoric acid element. Some- 

 times, when the sugar-refiners have a very large quantity of 

 spent bone-dust, they sell it very cheap. I have bought it as 

 low as five or six dollars a ton ; and it would be well, per- 

 haps, for farmers who propose to make their own superphos- 

 phates to keep an eye in that direction. Sulphuric acid at 

 the present time is very cheap, and with a little experience, 

 the two materials can be handled without injury to the cloth- 

 ing, and all the dififerent processes can be gone through with 

 quite satisfactorily on the premises. 



I hope, gentlemen, that the influence of our deliberations 

 here will be to induce farmers to resume the cultivation of 

 Indian corn. I am certain, from a pretty large experience, 

 that it can be produced at less than one-half what it costs us 

 to bring it here from the West. I believe we can raise 

 Indian corn at a cost of about forty cents a bushel. I am 

 told that it has been raised at one-half that sum. I have 

 never quite succeeded in doing that, but there can be no ques- 

 tion that Indian corn can be raised upon fair land, with 

 suitable fertilizers, at about forty cents a bushel. 



Question. Do you use your bone just as you receive it 

 from the sugar-refinery, or do you pulverize it? 



Dr. Nichols. I generally add the acid to it just as I 

 receive it. It may be done either way. 



Mr. Hapgood. I think corn can be raised for less than 

 forty cents a bushel, by the use of barn-yard manure. 



Adjourned to evening. 



