MANURES. 47 



Bones may be dissolved rapidly, by throwing into a com- 

 pact heap, moistening, and then covering them with earth. 

 In this condition they soon heat and crumble, and when thus 

 reduced, they may be applied to the land. 



PHOSPHATE OF LIME. 



This exists in a fossil state, and is known in some of its 

 forms as apatite, phosphorite, &c. An extensive quarry is 

 found in Estramadura, Spain ; large beds of it exist in vari- 

 ous parts of England and on the Continent of Europe, asso- 

 ciated with carbonate and other forms of lime ; and small de- 

 posites of it have been discovered in various parts of the 

 United States. It is probable, it may yet be found in such 

 localities and in such abundance, as to be useful to the 

 farmer. It has been shown, that more than half of the whole 

 weight of bones consists of pure phosphate of lime ; its value 

 for agricultural purposes is therefore apparent, since the 

 principal benefit of bones is derived from the large propor- 

 tion of phosphate they contain. 



SALT OR CHLORIDE OF SODIUM 



Is variously obtained, either as fossil or rock salt ; from 

 boiling or evaporation of salt springs ; and from the waters 

 of the ocean. In a pure state, it consists of 60 of chlorine 

 and 40 of sodium, in every 100 parts. Sodium chemically 

 combined with oxygen, forms soda ; and it will be seen by 

 referring to the table, (page 35), that salt furnishes two 

 of the important constituents in the ash of every vegetable. 

 Its advantages to vegetation are to be inferred from a know- 

 ledge of its composition, and this inference is fully corrobo- 

 rated by experience. The merits of salt as a manure, were 

 understood and appreciated by the ancients, and by them it 

 was extensively used on their fields. It has continued to 

 be employed for the same purposes, by intelligent agricultu- 

 rists to the present time. On some soils, it yields no appa- 

 rent benefit. Such as are near the sea-coast, and occasion- 

 ally receive deposits from the salt spray, \vhich is often 

 carried far inland by the ocean storms ; or such as contain 

 chlorine and soda in any other form, and in sufficient abun- 

 dance for the wants of the crops, are not affected by it. But 

 in other situations, when used at the rate of three to sixteen 

 bushels per acre, the crops of grains, roots or grasses have 

 been increased from 20 to 50 per cent. It may be applied 

 in minute portions in the hill, or scattered broadcast, or 



