AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 299 



horns and pitlis are also very valuable, as they contain much phosphate of 

 lime. Bone earth is so valuable, that if applied to a lot covered with five- 

 finger vines, it will renovate and make the field productive. Any way to 

 decompose these tan-yard substances, will make them very valuable, more 

 80 than any farm-yard manure, and they are easily managed. 



Prof. Nash. — I have seen some wonderful results produced from applica- 

 tion of bones to the earth. I have seen the spongioles cling around bones 

 in great masses, to extract sustenance. I believe that crops will use up 

 the substance of bones, in time, without previousl}i dissolving them in acid 

 or otherwise. 



The Chairman stated a very pointed result from the buried bones of an 

 animal in causing a grape vine to produce fruit. 



Mr. Meigs reminded the club of the system of Columella, 1700 years 

 ago. Make trenches three feet deep and three feet wide ; put in some 

 pieces of stones, bones broken up, especially put in i^kulls of animals, bro- 

 ken up ; fill the trench with the best soil suited to the grape ; set the vines 

 in it, at suitable distances ; let nothing grow ; let the surface of the ground 

 be sandy, and not a weed or a plant on it. Such success attended Colu- 

 mella's grapes, and all his crops, that the Lajid Skinners of Italy cried out 

 (as our own may well do), " Columella deals with the devil ! for Italy has 

 been so long cultivated, that her land is worn out, and cannot be restored 

 by natural means. Columella gets his secret help from the devil !" 



It was with that learned farmer as it was, some thirteen hundred years 

 afterwards, with the father of printing. Oh ! the devil and Dr. Faustus ! 



Mr. Pardee enquired what depth bones should be placed around o-rape 

 vines. 



The Chairman. — No matter how far oif the bones are, the vine roots will 

 find them if it can get no phosphates from any other source. All crops 

 must have phosphates, and grapes cannot grow without a supply. Roots 

 spread abroad in search of food ; if they can find it at home tiicy will not 

 spread. 



LIQUID MANURE, 



Dr. Holton read a letter from Dr. Brown, from Wiscon^;in, inquiring 

 about the mode of sending liquid manure from the vats to the field, and 

 whether it was in a fit condition to apply to crops as it would naturally 

 exist in the vat. 



The Chairman stated that liquid manure should only be used in a very 

 diluted state. All manure should be liquefied before applying it to the 

 land. 



John G. Bergen said it was utterly impracticable to apply liquid manure 

 upon farms in general. He had heard a great deal about this thing, but 

 he had no. faith in it. The best way was to put the manure well composted 

 in our barn yards, upon the field, and the usual rain will dilute it as fast 

 as the wheat and other crops want it. Liquid manure is doubtless good 

 on grass and some other crops ; but we shall never find the farm labor con- 



