192 SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



sent, is that which arranges all of them into three classes, viz: 

 animal, vegetable and mineral manures. The first class includes 

 all substances of animal origin : the second includes all those 

 of vegetable origin; and the third, all those derived directly 

 from the mineral kingdom. 



O 



ANIMAL MANURES.* 



Animal substances are better fertilizers than those of veget- 

 able origin, on account of their chemical constitution and the 

 facility with which they decompose : they furnish more manure 

 in proportion to their bulk, and act more promptly and rapidly. 

 The properties and value of these substances are given mostly 

 on the authority of Johnston and Boussingault. 



The flesh of animals, after and during its decomposition, is a 

 rich and active manure: the lean flesh acts more energetically 

 than the/a. 



Blood is similar in its properties to lean flesh ; it is sometimes 

 applied as a top dressing in the form of dried powder, and 

 sometimes mixed with other matters, to form composts. The 

 scraps of skin among 1 the refuse of curriers' shops are also 

 used as manure. 



Wool, hair, horns and hoofs found in large quantities among 

 the refuse of various manufactories, contain large proportions 

 of carbon and nitrogen, as do most animal substances, and are 

 therefore highly concentrated manures. The refuse of fisheries, 

 soap and candle factories, slaughter houses, kitchens, sugar 

 manufactories, &c., all contain matters rich in those elements 

 which characterize good fertilizers. 



Animal charcoal, which is to be obtained in considerable 

 quantities at sugar refiners' shops, in a state of mixture with 

 blood and lime, is a manure of considerable value. 



Bones are valuable on account of both the organic an.d 

 mineral matters which they contain, The bones of different 



* See tables at the end of the chapter. 



