238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It should be layered with good muck or soil, and kept moist 

 until thorough decomposition results, and then it is fitted for 

 the field. A gill of dry bone-powder, placed in the opening pre- 

 pared for a hill of corn, and covered with moist earth, heats 

 rapidly ; and I have found that in forty-eight hours a thermom- 

 eter with the bulb buried in the mass indicates a temperature of 

 112° Fahrenheit. 



This temperature is fatal to the germination of seeds, and 

 beside the formation of caustic ammonia by the putrefactive 

 change of the gelatine, furnishes an agent, when in excess and 

 direct contact, equally as destructive as heat. Hence we learn 

 why corn and other grains sometimes not only fail to flourish 

 under its influence, but are absolutely destroyed in the germ. 

 This heating, decomposing process should be effected prior to 

 placing it in contact with seeds. The peat or soil used in con- 

 nection with it effectively absorbs all ammoniacal and gaseous 

 products, and holds them firmly, until abstracted by the fibres of 

 the plant-roots in search of aliment. 



This is not the time or place to present details of observations 

 and experiments with bones or other fertilizers. In fact, there 

 is much that is strictly empyrical in such statements ; they are 

 entangled with so many modifying and distracting circumstances 

 that they possess but little value. 



The experimental labors undertaken upon my own farm have 

 led me to adopt certain general conclusions as respects the . 

 teachings of chemistry and methods of employment of special 

 fertilizers, which will be stated before I close. I have employed 

 in these experiments a great variety of substances, under all 

 possible forms and conditions, and have had regard to hygro- 

 metric and thermometric influences. 



The analysis of soils constituted a prominent part of the 

 labor, and it was in this direction that I expected chemistry 

 would furnish most important aids. 



It was soon apparent that but imperfect guidance was to be 

 afforded by these analyses, however carefully conducted. In 

 fact, the very perfection of the results, the exhaustive nature of 

 the processes, created confusion and doubt, inasmuch as they 

 revealed the presence of elements amply sufficient to meet the 

 wants of plants ; and yet they would not flourish in those 

 soils. 



