482 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



degree, from the air. Thus, in the case of phosphates, we have a small 

 supply and a great demand, and therefore, according to the law of mhii- 

 inum, the application of phosphates might be expected to be followed with 

 excellent results. 



BOXES. At the commencement of the present century phosphates were 

 applied as bones to pastures and to turnips. They were at that time 

 ground into inch or half-inch bones, and in the case of pasture land were 

 sown at from 3,000 to 5,000 Ibs per acre. The effects of this treatment in 

 ( 'heshire afford well-known instances of the good effects of bones. In the 

 case of Lord Combermere's estate, land was increased in annual value by 

 this means from 10s. to 30s., and from 15s. to 40s. per acre. As a conse- 

 quence " boning" became one of the best recognised methods of improving 

 pasture-land. 



The reason for these striking effects is not far to seek, for, as the con- 

 stituents of bone had been constantly removed from these pastures for a 

 long series of years, in the shape of milk and young stock, it is no wonder 

 that they had become deficient in phosphates. 



A bullock of 1,000 Ibs. live weight, in store condition, contains about 

 50 Ibs. of mineral matter, according to results obtained on a large scale at 

 Rothamsted, by Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert. This mineral matter, we may 

 approximately state to have been collected from (at the most) two acres of 

 land in three years, or from one acre in six years. This would be equal 

 to the loss of 'V Ibs. of mineral matter per acre per annum =8'3 Ibs., or 

 to a loss of 33'2 Ibs. in four years. On comparing this with the amount 

 of mineral matter removed from tillage fields during a similar period, we 

 find that, although decidedly less, the quantity of ash ingredients removed 

 by grass land is very considerable. If a wheat crop of 28 bushels, and a 

 barley crop of 33 bushels per acre, be taken during four years, the straw 

 being supposed to be returned to the land, the amount of ash ingredients 

 removed will be about 78 Ibs. Although the per-acre loss on pasture is 

 probably less than one-half what it is on arable land, it must be remem- 

 bered that too frequently pastures are left unmanured, while tillage land 

 receives much indulgence. 



There is an opinion abroad, which requires to be qualified, that grazing 

 improves land, although all agree that repeated mowing acts injuriously. 

 The marked effect of bones upon land long grazed, taken in connection 

 with the figures just given, are a sufficient refutation to such erroneous 

 views. 



The effect of bones upon pastures is by no means uniform ; and caution 

 should be exercised before employing them on an extensive scale. Their 



