MANURES. . 245 



" add as before j allow it to remain over night, and in the morning 

 '■*■ repeat the operation, adding two more gallons of acid. When 

 *' the mass is quiet, add about two gallons more of water, and 

 " then gradually mix the remaining half-barrel of bone, and allow 

 " it to rest. The next day it may be spread upon a floor, where 

 " it will dry speedily if the weather is warm ; a barrel of good 

 " loam may be mixed with it in drying. It may be beaten fine 

 " with a mallet or ground in a plaster mill. If several casks are 

 *' used, two men can prepare a ton of excellent superphosphate 

 '' after this method in a day's time. * * * * ^f-- Much less 

 "acid is used in this formula than is demanded to accomplish the 

 "perfect decomposition of the bones ; but it is important to guard 

 " against the possibility of any free sulphuric acid in the mass, " 



Dr. Nichols also gives the following recipe for preparing bones 

 for use without reducing them to the condition of a superphos- 

 phate ; and bones applied to the soil, with the addition of the 

 other materials of the compound, cannot fail to constitute an 

 excellent manure : — 



"Take 100 pounds of bones beaten into as small fragments 

 "as possible; pack them in a tight cask or box with lOO pounds 

 " of good wood-ashes. Mix with the ashes before packing 25 

 "pounds of slaked lime, and 12 pounds of sal soda, powdered 

 " fine. It will require about 20 gallons of water to saturate the 

 " mass, and more may be added from time to time to maintain 

 " moisture. In two or three weeks the bones will be broken 

 " down completely, and the whole may be turned out upon a 

 " floor and mixed with two bushels of dry peat or good soil, and 

 "after drying, it is fit for use." 



Whether it will pay the farmer to manufacture superphosphate 

 of lime, or to reduce coarse bones according to the process de- 

 scribed above, must depend upon the amount of labor at his com- 

 mand and upon the extent to which he can profitably apply his 

 labor to other farm work during the winter season. Probably, if 

 he has muck which he might be hauling to his barn, or any other 

 profitable work for his hands, it will be better to purchase such 

 superphosphate as he may require in the general market ; — for the 



