336 



of 



moist earth form likewise a good manure, and they may be used for 

 this purpose, when they can be used for no other. 



Shoes and Nails. 



When 



often remain shod with shoes and nails ; these should be torn off 

 with strong pinchers ; the nails are useful to masons, to fasten stucco 

 plaster and mortar spread upon wood. In many provinces, and es- 

 pecially in Auvergne, these nails are kept to put in wooden shoes, 

 which render them more durable; they are likewise useful to pale up 

 fruit-trees along walls, by fastening their branches, with the aid of lit- 

 tle strips of linen which support them. 



Horns, Hoofs, Spurs, fyc. 



In order to separate these parts of the animal from the bones 

 which fill them, it will suffice to allow them to soak in the same wa- 

 ter, until they can be easily detached by passing between them the 

 blade of a knife. 



Spurs, horns and hoofs are formed of the same matter ; those 

 which are sufficiently large, without defects, and of a light shade, 

 can be sold to the toymen ; as to their value, the countrymen who 

 live in the environs of large cities, may inform themselves by apply- 

 ing to the persons who exercise these professions ; it varies in differ- 

 ent localities. The price of those which are of a clear color, and 

 have defects, or may not be sufficiently large, may be increased by 

 reducing them by rasping, before sending them to the toymakers. 

 Those which cannot be disposed of thus, as well as those which are 

 very brown, and which have very prominent defects may Be sold to 

 the establishments for making prussian blue — they are worth from ten 

 to fifteen franks for one hundred kil., or they will serve to form ex- 

 cellent manure ; but for this purpose it is necessary to divide them 

 very fine, the best means being to rasp them with a coarse rasp ; the 

 powder thus obtained may be spread over meadows, or beds of veg- 

 etables over all the earth under culture, or at the feet of different 

 plants. This manure is so powerful, that the quantity obtained from 

 four hoofs of a horse, ordinarily produces almost as much effect as 

 a small load of dung, and indemnifies sufficiently for a labor, very 

 hard it is true, but which may be performed by women or children, 

 often but little occupied in the country. This powder sold as ma- 

 nure for the colonies, is valued at about twenty francs the hundred 



kiL For want of a rasp, the horns may be cut in small pieces by 



