HOW TO MAKE SUPERPHOSPHATE. 235 



muck, human excrement, blubber and fish oil, gypsum and char- 

 coal, as the genuine article. 



I had the curiosity, recently, to inquire of a most excellent 

 farmer friend what was contained in some suspicious looking 

 barrels which had been rolled into his yard. " Superphosphate," 

 he replied. " Ah, superphoshate of lime, I suppose, for your 

 corn-field." " no, I think not," said he, " it is genuine super- 

 phosphate, and no lime is mixed with it." I expressed the 

 opinion that he was probably correct ; that the mixture was 

 innocent of lime, as found associated with phosphoric acid in 

 bony structures, and yet it was a little puzzling to know how it 

 could be " genuine superphosphate." 



Superphosphate of lime, or that compound formed by dissolv- 

 ing finely ground bones in sulphuric acid, is a most excellent 

 fertilizer. There is scarcely any land in New England that 

 will not under its use, render highly remunerative returns, but 

 we cannot depend upon manufacturers for it. Every farmer 

 must make it upon his own premises, and I insist, that it can 

 be produced readily, safely, cheaply. Let me present to you 

 the method which I adopt upon my own farm premises. 



Take a common sound molasses cask, divide in the middle 

 with a saw, into one-half of this, place half a barrel of finely 

 ground bone, and moisten it with two buckets of water, using a 

 hoe in mixing. Have ready a carboy of oil of vitriol, and a 

 stone pitcher holding one gallon. Turn out this full of the acid, 

 and gradually add it to the bone, constantly stirring. As soon 

 as effervescence subsides, fill it again with acid and add as 

 before ; allow it to remain over night, and in the morning, 

 repeat the operation, adding two more gallons of acid. When 

 the mass is quiet, add about two gallons more of water, and 

 then gradually mix the remaining half barrel of bone, and allow 

 it to rest. The next day it may be spread upon a floor where 

 it will dry speedily if the weather is warm. A barrel of good 

 loam may be mixed with it in drying. It may be beaten fine 

 with a mallet or ground in a plaster mill. If several casks are 

 used, two men can prepare a ton of excellent superphosphate 

 after this method, ii^ a day's time. It affords a prompt fertil- 

 izing influence, especially upon root crops, even when employed 

 alone. Much less acid is used in this formula than is demanded 

 to accomplish perfect decomposition of the bones ; but it is 



