AND AGRICULTURE. 57 



more readily taken up by the roots of the plants, 

 because the acid has already done what must 

 otherwise have been effected in the soil ; for, 

 until the bones are decomposed, they are of no 

 value as a manure. Another advantage is, a 

 smaller quantity produces an equal effect on the 

 crop. 



Sometimes another mode is adopted. A given 

 weight of bone-dust and an equal weight of sul- 

 phuric acid are mixed, and to this thirty times the 

 bulk of water is added. This mixture may be 

 applied to the soil from a common watering-cart ; 

 or sufficient powdered charcoal, peat, saw-dust 

 or soil, may be added to take up all the fluid, 

 when the compost may be applied in the usual 

 way. The charcoal is a good addition ; but the 

 peat and the saw-dust are gradually converted 

 into carbon.. 



Hair is not much used as a manure, because 

 of its expense. The sweepings of our hair-cut- 

 ters' rooms, now all wasted, might be collected 

 and most profitably used. 



Questions. Is there any other mode of preparing bones 

 for manure? Describe how this preparation may be ap- 

 plied. May this mixture be made into solid compost? 

 How ? Is hair much used as a manure ? Is not much hair 

 wasted ? 



