Manuring Grass Lands. 209 



-•and by comb and knife-handle makers, have always been found 

 a most effective manure for grass-lands. None but the best and 

 soundest unboiled bones can be worked for the purposes just 

 named, consequently the sawings and chippings from them are 

 very valuable. If applied in autumn, bone-sawings Avill produce 

 an effect* the following spring; and I know pastures now very 

 good which were top-dressed at the rate of 8 cwt. per acre 

 (price 9/. per ton), although ten, fifteen, and even twenty years 

 have elapsed since the manure was applied. 



Bone-sawings are readily adulterated, and no doubt have been 

 so to a great extent, without the detection or suspicion of many 

 farmers who have used them. 



During the past year I have bought several tons of sawings 

 from a button manufacturer : when I had taken about 5 tons, 

 from several circumstances I began to be suspicious of some 

 trick being played on me. I did not, however, then cease 

 Jbuying, nor did I institute particular inquiry. In a short time 

 I sent for upwards of 2 tons more ; and, upon a closer exa- 

 mination of the sawings, I was so far satisfied of being wrong- 

 fully dealt with that I sent a quantity to be analyzed at the 

 laboratory of the Royal Institution, Manchester, and had the fol- 

 account returned : — 



" Sir, — The samj^le of bones left by you we find to consist of — 



Organic matter 26'98 



Water 11-56 



Phosphate of iron, magnesia 2*01 



Phosphate of lime 43"03 



Carbonate of lime 6'84 



Sand 9-58 



100-00 

 r. Grace Calvert." 



Hearing that the high sheriff of the county of Chester had 

 been dealing with the same party, I put myself in commu- 

 nication with him, and to my first inquiry received this 

 answer : — 



" Sir, — I have had transactions with the party you name, which have not 

 "been of a satisfactory character ; and I feel disposed to assist any one in show- 

 ing up adulteration of manures, which I fear is nearly universal. 



" Most truly yours, 

 ; " Dec. 24, 1857." " Wm. Atkinson. 



In a second communication from Mr. Atkinson, he writes : — 



" The last bones I had from the same party showed by analysis near 10 per 

 cent, of silica or sand, or as below : — 



VOL. XIX. P 



