146 On Bones as a Manure. 



The above great inferiority of cost, when taken into consideration, 

 with the very great difference of labour, and the greater richness and 

 durability of bones as manure, over dung, form a very striking con- 

 trast 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 if the quantity allowed is small, early in the spring * ; 

 but previous to its application as a top -dressing, the five coulter cut- 

 ting plough, or scarificator, should be employed to open the ground. 

 The manure has thus a more speedy influence upon the grasses. 

 There is less waste of it, and its effects are more beneficial and com- 

 plete, than when it is merely thrown upon the surface, and left to 

 work its own way, without any such assistance. When thus ma- 

 naged, bones have a greater effect on grass lands, than even on ara- 

 ble f . The cows pastured on lands thus manured, are so much im- 

 proved in condition, that they will produce about twice the quantity 

 of butter, than when feeding upon land of similar quality, but not 

 boned ; and the pasture, in regard both to quantity and quality, is 

 greatly ameliorated for a number of years. When the field is in hay, 

 the crop is likewise more abundant, the after-grass more nutritious, 

 and the herbage it produces is so peculiarly sweet, that cattle and 

 sheep will hang upon it, as long as they can find a blade of grass to 

 devour J. 



But we are told, that bone manure is an article that may be ex- 

 hausted, and that a supply cannot be confidently relied on. That idea 

 however, cannot be admitted. Bones might be brought, even in con- 

 siderable quantities, in ballast, from the most distant countries ; and 

 from the Brazils, where cattle are so cheap, as to be killed for the 

 sake of their hides alone, the supply would probably be abundant. 

 Besides, there are many other substances, as horns, the shells of sea- 

 fish, coral, and shell-marl, which may answer the same purpose, and 

 the produce of which is perfectly inexhaustible. Horns are found 

 to be a more powerful manure than even bones, for they contain a 

 larger quantity of decomposible animal matter, but being much used 

 in various manufactures, their shavings or turnings alone, are applica- 

 ble to agricultural purposes ; and though they form an excellent ma- 

 nure, yet they are not sufficiently abundant to be much used. They 

 are sown by the hand, as a top-dressing for wheat, and other crops . 



Shells of Sea- Fish. As bones are likely to become rather a scarce 

 article, it may be difficult to supply them in quantities adequate to 

 the demand : it is a most fortunate circumstance therefore, that the 

 shells of oysters and other sea-fish, when properly reduced in size, 

 have been found equally useful as a manure. Their utility would be 

 much increased, if they were sprinkled with sulphuric acid, by the ad- 

 dition of which they would be converted into gypsum. 



* If bruised bones were used, they might interrupt the progress of the scythe. 



\ Doncaster Report, p. 14. 



\ Worgan's Survey of Cornwall, p. 150. 



Davy's Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry, p. 253. 



