84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



Maj. Alvord. In visiting the large estaljlishment of Mr. 

 Wilkinson, who is a large blanket manufacturer, I saw large 

 quantities of this wool waste, and was assured that he got 

 better results from it than from almost any other fertilizing 

 material that he could obtain. He is a maker of cheap blank- 

 ets. I don't suppose he would feel complimented by having 

 his establishment called a shoddy mill, but I think it might 

 come under that head. He told me that the waste of his mill 

 was saturated with a very large proportion of fish oil, and 

 perhaps that would change Dr. Jenkins' opinion in regard to 

 the mate*rial. At least, it is very greasy in its general char- 

 acter. 



Dr. Jenkins. It seems to me that according as the mode 

 of manufacture may vary, the value of the product will vary. 

 I do not wish to be understood as saying that wool-waste is 

 such an inferior article for fertilizing purposes as leather, and 

 according to the mode in which it is manufactured, of course 

 its value will vary. If you can get it cheaply enough, and ap- 

 ply enough of it, it will be a good thing. I do not know how 

 its being drenched with fish oil would affect it. In one as- 

 pect of the case, I should suppose unfavorably. That is, any 

 material which is soaked with grease I should hesitate about 

 employing, since the oil would retard decomposition. Yet it 

 may be that very crude fish oil contains some soluble nitro- 

 genous matters which would be valuable fertilizers. 



Dr. Sturtevant. I would say that the wool-waste from the 

 burring machines of mills is very highly valued in Framing- 

 ham, and' produces remarkably quick and powerful results. 



Mr. Hinman. Perhaps if I were to go a little more into 

 detail in regard to the treatment of the two things I have 

 spoken of, it would give some hints on the subject. I have 

 used both horn shavings and wool-waste, and treated them pre- 

 cisely alike. I took both and mixed them with muck. I had 

 the idea at that time that I could make myself rich by the 

 use of muck. The horn shavings were entirely dry until I 

 mixed them with muck. I don't know that I ever mixed any 

 two things that seemed in their operation more nearly alike 



