59S 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 10 



necessarily lost some valuable parts of their sub- 

 stance, yet having been fermented, they are prefer- 

 able to those in a raw state,* the fibres of the tur- 

 nips, or of any other plant, taking hold of them 

 sooner, alter the oleaginous part, which impedes 

 their decomposition, has been taken from them. 

 It is in consequence of their being heated, that 

 bones are rather improved in utility, by their be- 

 ing kept in a great body on board a ship, either 

 when imported from oilier countries, or conveyed 

 at home from one port to another. Bones howe- 

 ver, in a raw state, are superior in point of dura- 

 tion, to those which have undergone any manufac- 

 turing process. 



9. On the advantages of bone manure, applied 

 to arable land. — In the cultivation of arable land, 

 bone manure is generally employed for the turnip 

 crop. 



This is productive of numerous advantages; 

 the use of this manure, diminishes labor at the 

 season of the year, when time is of the greatest 

 importance, for one wagon load, containing a 

 hundred and twenty bushels of small bones, fit for 

 the drill, equals from forty to fifty cart loads of fold 

 manure. 



Its suitableness for the drill, when converted in- 

 to dust, and its great fertilizing properties, render 

 it peculiarly valuable in those parts, where from 

 the distance of towns, or large villages, it is im- 

 possible to procure manures of a heavier and more 

 bulky description. It is evident, that there can be 

 no seeds of weeds, or larvae of insects in bone ma- 

 nure, which is generally the case in farm-yard 

 dung. 



It is an immense advantage, (if bones are pro- 

 perly used,) that a severe drought will not prevent 

 a crop of turnips, even in seasons, when all other 

 manures will fail. A number of valuable animals 

 are thus preserved from perishing, and ma- 

 nure obtained for the succeeding crops in the rota- 

 tion. 



When bones are used, the farmer is but little 

 troubled with the Hy or beetle, so injurious to tur- 

 nips, for as soon as the plant reaches the bones, 

 they immediately get into the rough leafj and no 

 fly touches them; whereas with dung, particularly 

 if it is only one year old, the fly is generated, and 

 in dry weather, the continued sunshine matures 

 them, and from want of rain or cool weather to 

 thin them, they come into action in great num- 

 bers, and destroy the young plant. t It has also 

 been remarked, that the disorder, called finders 

 and toes, has been less prevalent since bone-dust 

 has been in use. 



Turnips raised by bone-dust, are said to be su- 

 perior in quality to "those produced by any other 

 sort of manure. They also remain quite green. 

 when the same crop, laid down with other dress- 

 ings, is entirely destroyed. The roots also, are 

 quite of a different quality, being much firmer, and 

 more nutritious, while the succeeding barley 

 ripens earlier, and is increased in quantity. The 

 succeeding crop of clover also, is said to be im- 

 proved in the same proportion. 



In thin sandy soils, with a gravelly subsoil, if 

 rape dust be used, it is often washed away by rain, 

 and in very hot and dry seasons, the strength and 

 virtues of dung are apt to be evaporated. But in 



* Doncaster Report, p. 9; also p. 22. 

 fDongaster Report, pp. and 10. 



all seasons, and under all circumstances, bone ma- 

 nure is (bund to be productive. 



Bone-dust as a manure may, with comparative 

 ease, be applied to lands at a "great distance from 

 the homestead, or of difficult access; also in situa- 

 tions where the surface is broken by rocks, or so 

 steep, as to make it difficult to cover dung, (where 

 it is used) in the drills. 



Turnips however, produced by bone manure, 

 should be consumed on the ground by sheep, to 

 prepare it for the succeeding crop of corn, as the 

 effect of such a small quantity, cannot be supposed 

 to continue through successive crops; but if any 

 part of the turnips be removed, care should be 

 taken, to clean them well when taken up, other- 

 wise the small particles of bones, which are Ibund 

 invariably adhering to the roots, would be carried 

 off' the land.* 



It is an immense addition to all these advan- 

 tages, that when this extraneous manure can be 

 made use of, the dung produced on the farm, not 

 being required for the turnips, can be advantage- 

 ously applied to the other crops in cultivation. 



The following is a comparative statement of the 

 expense of manuring an acre of land with bone- 

 dust, and with dung, allowing forty-five imperial 

 bushels of the former, and thirty tons of the latter, 

 and supposing the distance of the farm, from the. 

 place where the manure is supplied, to be five 

 miles. 



To 30 tons dung, at the low 



price of 5s. per ton, £7 10 



Cartage, tolls, &c. for 30 carts, 



at 2s. 6d. per cart, 3 15 



£11 5 



To 45 imperial bushels of 



bone-dust and drill, average 



price 2s. Sd. per bushel, £6 



Cartage, &c, one cart, 2 6 



6 2 6 



Additional expense of an acre manured 

 with dung, compared with one manured 

 with bones, £5 2 6 



The above great inferiority of cost, when taken 

 into consideration with the very great difference of 

 labor, and the greater richness and durability of 

 bones as manure, over dung, form a very striking 

 contrast indeed. 



10. On the advantages of Bone Manure applied 

 to grass lands. — On grass, bones should be sown 

 in the state of powder, in autumn, by the hand, or 

 ifthe quantity allowed is small, early in the spring;f 

 but previous to its application as a top-dressing, 

 the five coulter cutting plough, or scarificator, 

 should be employed to open the ground. The ma- 

 nure has thus a more speedy influence upon the 

 grasses. There is less waste of it, and its etfecls 

 are more beneficial and complete, than when it is 

 merely thrown upon the surface, and left to work 

 its own way, without any such assistance. When 

 thus managed, bones have a greater effect on ^ 

 grass lands, than even on arable.f The cows 



* Hints from Mr. Grey of Millfield. 



j-If bruised bones were used they might interrupt 

 the progress of the scythe. 



JDonoaster Report, p. 14. 



