JOHN P. NORTON'S ADDRESS. 383 



dried, all the varieties of bones, have more tlian lialf their 

 weight of phosphate of lime. 



When buried whole in the soil, they last during a very long 

 period of time. Some experiments are recorded, in which va- 

 rious bones were taken up, after having been buried eight or 

 ten years. They had scarcely changed as to size, but a chemi- 

 cal examination proved that they had been undergoing a grad- 

 ual change in composition. Some parts had disappeared more 

 than others, but still, it was evident that the bones would re- ' 

 main capable of affording nourishment to plants, for many years 

 longer. 



When applied crushed or ground, their decay is quicker ; of 

 course, they do not last nearly so long, but their effect upon 

 vegetation is more immediate and powerful. They are easily 

 ground in a common plaster mill. When there is a demand, 

 such mills will be established in every district. 



There is one other form, in which they produce, a still more 

 marked effect. This is that of boiled bones ; these are bones 

 that have been boiled by the glue makers. A large portion of 

 the gelatine, one of their most valuable parts, is thus dissolved 

 out, but some remains ; and the whole bone is so softened, that 

 it much more readily decomposes in the soil, thus at once af- 

 fording nourishment to the crop. 



It may be urged, that, as bones decrease so slowly in the soil, 

 the small quantity of matter annually drawn from them, can 

 really be of very little importance. This objection is met, by 

 reference to analyses of the ash from our grain crops, for in- 

 stance. We there find, that in the ash from the stem, there is 

 very little, if any, phosphoric acid ; in the ash from the seed, . 

 on the contrary, it constitutes more than half This is one of 

 the most beautiful provisions of an all-wise Providence. The 

 straw of grain is not so especially intended for food as the 

 grain itself, and hence the phosphoric acid passes up the whole 

 length of the stalk, from the soil, and is finally deposited just 

 where it is needed. 



But it may be asked, Why is this phosphoric acid so neces- 

 sary in the food ? The answer is obvious ; it is required there, '■ 

 in order that the animal may have materials for building up the 



