704 



N". i. 



Moisture ... ... ... i2'O2 



Organic matter ... ... 2871 



Phosphate of lime ... ... 4</^ 



Carbonate of lime ... ... 4-37 



Alkaline salts ... ... 4-55 



Sand ... ... ... i '07 



lOO'OO lOO'OO 



i. Nitrogen ... 3-44 373 



Equal to ammonia ... ... 4-17 4-53 



BONE DUST, OR BOXE MEAL. 



Bones ground to a very tine state are far more active in the 

 soil than when coarse. In the line state a larger surface is exposed 

 to the action of oxygen and other agencies which cause the bones 

 to ferment and render them more easily soluble. Bone dust is a 

 slow manure. That made from steamed bones is more soluble 

 than that made from raw bones. Bone clust is much more valuable 

 than mineral phosphates or the phosphatic guanos, not only because 

 it contains a fair percentage of nitrogen, but also because it is more 

 soluble in the soil than either of these other phosphatic manures. 

 It is beneficial as a top dressing for pasture land if 7 to 10 c\vt. per 

 acre is given. The crops that are most benefited by it, however, are 

 turnips, potatoes, hops, vines, and tobacco, giving from 5 to 6 cwt. 

 per acre as a dressing in conjunction with potash. It is best 

 adapted for light soils. 



I must protest against the mixtures sold in Western Australia 

 under the name of bone dust, which are merely composts 

 of dried blood, flesh, and some bones, with either bone ash or 

 mineral phosphates. Bone ash and mineral phosphates have not 

 an agricultural value equal to bone dust. They are not so easily 

 rendered soluble in the soil. A compost, or any other substance, 

 should be sold only under the name that would designate its com- 

 position, and not under the name of something entirely different 

 from it. I understand the merchants are not entirely to blame for 

 this state of things, the farmer being in a great measure culpable. 

 When speaking to a merchant about this, he informed me that he 

 could not sell pure bone dust. Farmers would not have it. What 

 they want is something that stinks. If smell is the farmer's criterion 

 of a manure, in these composts they certainly get all they want. If 

 manures are bought and applied to the soil on the basis of smell, 

 one need not be surprised that the results are not so satisfactory as 

 are otien anticipated. 



Kermeiit'.-d bones are prepared by mixing the bones with heavy 

 soil or clay. The heap is then drenched with urine and covered 

 with peaty soil or clav aii'l allowed to ferment tor two or three 

 weeks. Fermented bones are more soluble and quicker in their 

 action than raw bones. 



