32 



Chemical Composition and Commercial Value of 



The subjoined analyses illustrate the differences found in 

 samples of various qualities : 



Composition of Animal Charcoal (Bone-black). 



11. BONES. 



Bones are used, for agricultural purposes in the following 

 states : 



a. Bone-dust. 



b. Boiled Bones. 



c. Bone Shavings. 



a. Bone-Dust. 



Before crushing, raw or butchers' bones 'are now generally 

 boiled out in an open cauldron, and by this means deprived, in 

 a great measure, of their fat. As an article of commerce fat is 

 the most valuable constituent of bones. As a manuring agent it 

 has no value whatever, or perhaps, more strictly speaking, its 

 presence is undesirable, inasmuch as it retards the decompo- 

 sition and solution of the bones. Far from being injurious, the 

 removal of fat from the bones decidedly improves their agricul- 

 tural value. 



The following is the average composition of a number of 

 samples of bone-dust analysed by me : 



Moisture 12-06 



*0rganic matter 29'12 



Phosphates of lime and magnesia (bone-earth) .. 49-54 



Carbonate of lime (determined by difference) . . 6'99 



Alkaline salts and magnesia (chiefly common salt) 1-91 



Sand .... .. -38 



100-00 



* Containing nitrogen 3-69 



Equal to ammonia 4-49 



