66 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTUKAL 



acts energetically on bones at first and readily disintegrates them 

 to a certain depth. Unless, however, a large of excess of acid be 

 used the action soon becomes sluggish, because where the acid is 

 in contact with the bone it forms sulphate of lime, itself being- 

 spent as an acid or solvent in the operation, and its place is taken 

 by the bulky sulphate. Fresh acid must then be brought in con- 

 tact with the bone by abundant stirring in order to renew and 

 maintain the action. The pulpy sulphate of lime holds mechani- 

 ■cally a large quantity of liquid and thus hinders the desired 

 result. The excess of sulphuric acid rapidly absorbs moisture 

 from the air and the final result is the solution of the bone or 

 most of it at the expense of a wasteful excess of acid and the 

 product requires mixture with something to take up the water 

 and neutralize the excess of sulphuric acid. 



These difficulties would not be so serious if suitable and cheap 

 vessels could be had in which to carry on the process, for after 

 the bones were disintegrated the sloppy mass could be dried and 

 its excess of sulphuric acid utilized by admixture of South Car- 

 olina phosjihate rock, or other similar material, which wovild be 

 thereby converted into superphosphate. 



On a very small scale cast-iron vessels could be employed. A 

 pit lined with blue flag-stones or with hard bricks closely laid in 

 common lime mortar (not cement), would' be more suitable for 

 large quantities. It would appear, however, that there is doubt- 

 ful profit in undertaking to reduce whole bones by sulphuric acid 

 on the small scale, especially since the use of this acid is attended 

 by considerable risk to those inexperienced in handling it. 



In Russia, IlienkoiF and Engelhardt claim to have successfully 

 employed caustic potash for the conversion of bones into a pulver- 

 ulent fertilizei*. 



Their method of reducing entire bones with caustic potash, or 

 what amounts to the same thing, with icood ashes and lime, is 

 described by Ilienkoif as follows : 



" To 4,000 pounds of bone take 4,000 pounds of unleached wood 

 ashes, 600 pounds of fresh-burned lime and 4,500 pounds of water. 

 First slack the lime to a powder, mix it with the ashes, and plac- 

 ing a layer of bones in a suitable receptacle— a pit in the ground 

 lined with boards, stone slabs or brick— cover them with the mix- 

 ture ; lay down more bones and cover and repeat this until half 

 the bones, or 2,000 pounds are interstratified with the ashes and 

 lime; then pour on 3,G00 pounds of water, distributing it well, 



