CAUSES OF FAILURE OF BONES. 237 



cried with water, with access of air. Ground bones undergo no 

 change when air and moisture are excluded, and without this 

 the powder is no more fitted or adapted for plant-food than 

 pebble-stones or powdered glass. The putrefactive fermentation 

 is attended with a copious evolution of heat ; new bodies are 

 formed, and disintegration of the structure takes place. The 

 earthy constituents are composed principally of phosphate of 

 lime. The best specimens I have met with, gave, approxima- 

 tive^, of animal material and water 35 per cent. ; phosphoric 

 acid earths, 47 per cent. ; carbonate of lime, silica, &c., 18 per 

 cent. A direct estimation of the nitrogen, gave, in 1,000 

 pounds, of bones, 50 pounds ; of phosphoric acid, 240 pounds ; 

 of lime, 330 pounds. Hence we find they afford about 20 per 

 cent, of nitrogen in their fresh condition. The phosphoric acid, 

 however, greatly preponderates. Of this they furnish a rich 

 supply. 



In carefully studying the causes of failure of bones, when 

 applied to the production of the cereal grains, it is evident we 

 cannot always attribute it to want of the nitrogenous principle, 

 as in addition to what it is capable of furnishing, other sources 

 of supply often exist in the soil fully capable of meeting 

 deficiencies. 



In considering some general causes which operate to prevent 

 full and legitimate good results following the application of 

 bones to soils, we shall see that the method or form of employ- 

 ment may have much to do with such failures. Adverse influ- 

 ences may be due, first, to adulteration in the bone material ; 

 second, the want of proper preparation before applying to the 

 soil ; third, unfavorable seasons. The first is an evil of very 

 great magnitude, and one which can and ought to be abated. 

 Every dollar accumulated by the industrious farmer is usually 

 earned by the sweat of the brow, and he ought, particularly, to 

 be exempt from peculation and fraud. Pulverized oyster and 

 clam-shells, mixed so largely with bone-dust by some manufac- 

 turers, exhibit a form of dishonesty particularly reprehensible, 

 and are a source of great loss and disappointment to the husband- 

 man. It is pleasing to know that all mill men do not practise 

 this fraud. 



The want of proper preparation is a fruitful source of failure. 

 Bone-dust ought always to be composted or rotted before using. 



