PHOSPHATE BEDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 109 



Dr. Durfee. Iii the early history of grape growing, I took 

 all the dead horses I could find and buried them in the borders. 

 I supposed there was some fertility about them. 



Dr. Nichols. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Phinney. I would like to inquire of Dr. Nichols whether 

 he has examined, for his own satisfaction even, the value of 

 the deposits that have recently been discovered in South Caro- 

 lina. One of the largest manufactures in this State is in this 

 immediate vicinity, large cargoes are constantly coming here, 

 and it is likely that the article is quite generally coming into 

 market ; but how far it may be serviceable to the farmer is yet 

 to be ascertained, I suppose. I should like to know how far he 

 may have examined these deposits, to ascertain their value. 



Dr. Nichols. I made an analysis of those rocks when they 

 were first discovered, and of course I was incidentally made 

 acquainted with the value of them ; and I would repeat what I 

 said before, that the whole value of those rocks to the farmer, 

 depends upon the treatment. If they are properly treated, 

 chemically acted upon, they will be valuable. I wish to make 

 a distinction here between bones and these phosphatic rocks. 

 We obtain phosphoric acid from bones, and also from these 

 rocks ; but in the case of bones, we obtain the nitrogen which is 

 found in the gelatine of the bones. We do not get any of that 

 element in those rocks ; we simply get phosphoric acid. But I 

 see no reason to doubt the high utility of those phosphates, if 

 they are properly manufactured. The phosphoric acid that 

 comes from those rocks is precisely as good for plants as that 

 obtained from bones, but it must be liberated, and must be 

 acted upon ; and if anybody is half making them, or imperfectly 

 making them, of course, if anybody buys these products, he will 

 be deceived, he will be cheated. But if properly acted upon, 

 the farmer will get a product that will be serviceable to his 

 crops. 



Prof. Chadbourne. What is the physical character of those 

 rocks ? I have never been able to examine them. 



Dr. Nichols. The upper strata of those rocks have a con- 

 siderable amount of shells incorporated with them, but as you 

 go down deeper, those disappear entirely. 



Prof. Chadbourne. What sort of shells ? 



