118 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



gave evidence of the gradual escape of ammonia when kept for 

 a few days in a well-closed bottle. 



To derive benefit from composting bones with wood ashes 

 requires a careful protection of the mixture against the escape 

 of ammonia, which is invariably formed in the course of time. 

 The mixture ought to be covered at once with a layer of good 

 loam, from six to eight inches in thickness. In addition to 

 this, it is well to scatter some gypsum (plaster) or ground 

 kieserite (crude sulphate of magnesia) over the entire compost 

 heap. The practice of mixing the ground bone with from 

 three to four times its bulk of good soil, moistening the mixture 

 thoroughly with liquid manure, and subsequently covering up 

 the entire mass in a similar way with earth and gypsum or 

 kieserite, also deserves recommendation. 



Bone Soup. 



[Sent on from Lynn, Mass.] 



Per cent.- 



Moisture at lOO'' C, 82 92 



Dry matter, 17.08 



Nitrogen, 1.26 



Ash constituents, 7 07 



The liquid was obtained in rendering bones. Its ash con- 

 stituents consist mainly of common salt with a small percentage 

 of bone phosphate, and its agricultural value depends mainly on 

 the nitrogen present. Allowing fifteen cents per pound of that 

 element, one ton of the soup represents a value of $3.78. It 

 ought to be economized. 



Dried Blood. 



[Sent on for examination.] 



Ter cent. 



Moisture at 100° C , 11.99 



Nitrogen (17 cents per pound) 13.55 



Valuation per 2,000 lbs., |46 07 



Amynonium Sulphate. 



[Sent on from Amherst, Mass.] 



Per cent. 



Moisture at 100° C 13 



Nitrogen 20.88 per cent. ; equal to ammonia, 25.35' 



Sulphuric acid, 59.74 



