52 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ascertained with regard to bone separated by mechanical process 

 alone, and without any increased solubility by chemical combi- 

 nation, may not be ascertained with regard to guano or the 

 superphosphates. It is important that the subject should be 

 thoroughly investigated — especially when we remember that the 

 good cultivator always returns to a well prepared manure heap, 

 the product of his stable and farmyard, with a confidence which 

 chemistry and the guano islands have not yet shaken. 



In conclusion, your Committee would earnestly recommend 

 the continuance of experiments with bones as a fertilizer. Of 

 their value too much cannot be said. When properly introduced 

 into the soil they take the highest rank among fertilizing agents, 

 and have never failed to answer the expectations of the culti- 

 vator, when properly prepared and used. The dissolving of 

 bones in sulphuric acid has long been known as a most valuable 

 mode of preparing them. More recent experiments with ashes 

 and caustic lime seem to have resulted well. And it remains to 

 be proved how far mechanical solution will take the place of 

 these chemical processes. We most ardently hope that every 

 effort now going on in the county to provide us with bones for 

 manure will be continued and improved upon, until we have a 

 good supply of this manure, prepared in the best manner. 



Geo. B. Loring, Chairman. 



Statement of William R. Putnam, of Danvers. 



By the request of the secretary I send the result of a small 

 experiment in the use of bone manure. It was made without 

 any intention of making it public, but simply to satisfy myself 

 which was the best bone manure, made at the different mills in 

 the county. 



The soil where the ,corn was planted is a good loam. It had 

 been in grass for six years. It was ploughed in November, 

 18G5, about seven inches deep. It was well worked with the 

 harrow and cultivator the last of April. The first week in May 

 it was planted ; the s.ime kind of seed was used on the whole 

 lot of about two acres. 



Lot No. 1 was manured from bone meal from Breed's Mill 

 in Lynn, the cost of which was three cents per pound, and was 

 applied at the rate of 500 pounds per acre. The hills were 



