142 On Bones as a Manure. 



cultural Association), much useful information, regarding the advan- 

 tages of this great discovery, was collected and published *. 



2. Chemical Analysis of Bones. The composition of bones, ac- 

 cording to Berzelius, is as follows : 



Dry Human Bones. Dry Ox Bones. 



Phosphate of lime, - - 51.04 55.45 



Carbonate of lime, - - 11.30 3.85 



Fluate of lime, 2. 2.90 



Phosphate of magnesia, - 1.16 2.05 



Soda, muriate of soda and water, 1.20 2.45 



Cartilage, - - 32.1?; _, , 

 Bloodvessels, - l.isj 



3. Manner in which the Manure operates. It is difficult to com- 

 prehend, how so small a quantity of manure, as that employed when 

 bones are made use of, should produce such astonishing effects. But 

 the enigma has been thus explained. Though the plants receive but 

 a small portion of benefit from the bone manure itself, yet by means 

 of that manure, strong young plants are produced, which are thus ren- 

 dered capable of extracting nourishment, from the substances in which 

 they are placed, and from the surrounding atmosphere. These are 

 acquisitions, the power of obtaining which, sickly or stunted plants do 

 not possess. By the same healthy nourishment, obtained in small 

 quantities during the progress of their growth, the plants are kept in 

 a constant state of improvement. They are thus enabled to absorb 

 the surrounding organic matter, to increase in size, and ultimately to 

 reach their full weight, and utmost perfection f . 



4. On the Soils for which Bone Manure is adapted. On light 

 dry soils, bone manure is peculiarly applicable, and it has likewise 

 been found highly advantageous on peat. From 15 to 20 bushels of 

 bone-dust per statute acre, when drilled, have been found to surpass, 

 both on light soils, and on peat, the ordinary dressing of farm-yard 

 dung, and even to exceed pigeons' dung and lime in producing ferti- 

 lity. In wet stiff land on the other hand, the nutritive part of the 

 bones is apt to remain on the surface, and does not so readily mix 

 with the soil as in ground of a freer quality. If previously mixed how- 

 ever, with other manure in compost, it might be advantageously ap- 

 plied, to every species of soil, whether wet or dry, and perhaps, in 

 many cases, might render fallows unnecessary. 



5. On Composts ivith Bone. It is a circumstance that seems to 

 be well ascertained, and the practice is strongly recommended by the 

 Doncaster Association J, that a compost of bones, with dung, or other 

 substances, is superior to bones used singly. Various substances have 

 been employed for that purpose, as six loads of farm-yard manure, to 

 ten bushels of bone-dust ; a quantity of ashes from house fires mois- 

 tened with urine ; five loads of burnt clay, or good earth, mixed with 

 fifty bushels of bones ; a compost of soot, rape- dust, red ashes from 

 burnt weeds, &c. 



* The association appointed a committee, to make inquiries regarding the 

 use and advantages of bones as a manure ; and the Report of the Committee of 

 that respectable Association, (which contains much valuable information on the 

 subject), was published by Ridgway, London, in 1829. 



f Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, p. 52. J Report, p. 20. 



