334 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



III. — Fine and Coarse Ground Bones. 



(Manufactured by Mr. J. B. Root, of Northborough, Mass., and collected at the store 

 of Mr. J. D. Lovell, Worcester, Mass.) 



Valuation i)er ton of 2,000 pounds of Fine Bones. 



432.40 pounds of phosphoric acid, $25 94 



81.40 " of nitrogen, 20 35 



$46 29 



Valuation per ton of 2,000 pounds of coarsely-ground Bones. 



406.8 pounds of phosphoric acid, $20 34 



82.4 " of nitrogen, 16 48 



$36 82 



The first specimen was of the usual size of its kind, and 

 thus better fitted for speedy action than the second or coarse 

 one. Both samples are manufactured, according to the ana- 

 lytical results, from good bones ; yet they differ widely in 

 their respective agricultural values. 



It is not a good practice to ofier coarsely-ground bones for 

 sale, even at reduced rates, as calculated above ; for their 

 action is quite slow, and thus too uncertain to secure a partic- 

 ular patronage. 



The fertilizing value of ground bones of corresponding 

 compositions stands in a direct relation to their degree of 

 fineness. Coarsely-ground bones should never be directly 

 applied to the soil ; they ought to be composted for a few 

 weeks with barn-yard manures before they are incorporated 

 into the soil. 



A good bone-meal penetrates more readily into the soil 

 without suffering any serious absorption than most other phos- 



