56 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



it to state that the average of mixed bone, such as is com- 

 monly used in the manufacture of fertilizers, will possess 



about the following ingredients 



Phosphate of lime 

 Carbonate of lime 

 Organic matter, 

 Sand, . 

 Water, 

 Other matter, 



40.28 

 5.32 

 30.14 

 11.80 

 10.50 

 1.96 



100.00 



Now if we suppose the organic matter and the water taken 

 out by decomposition, putrefaction or otherwise, we have left 

 59.36 parts, and 40.28 parts will still be pure bone phosphate 

 of lime, and this is 67.87 per cent., and that agrees pretty 

 nearly with the average composition of this Charleston phos- 

 phate, which is often sold by the cargo to average 65 per 

 cent. Or if we take the hard, solid bone of an ox and 

 subject it to analysis, we shall find, — 



Phosphate of lime, 

 Carbonate of lime, 

 Organic matter and water, 



61.24 



8.60 



30.16 



100.00 



If we remove, say 28 parts, of the organic matter, and the 

 water from this bone, we have left, — 



Phosphate of lime, 

 Carbonate of lime, 

 Organic matter and water, 



61.24 

 8.60 

 2.16 



72.00 



Now, of this 72 parts of the residue, 61.24 or 85.05 per 

 cent, will be pure bone phosphate of lime. This will serve, in 

 part, to explain the composition of the phosphate rock, if we 

 should adopt the theory of some scientific men, that the 



