254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



per cent of water, and contained in its air-dry state 5.0 per 

 cent, of nitrogen. Allowing from 14 to 15 cents per pound 

 of nitrogen, which is its usual valuation in coarse wool-waste, 

 the commercial value of the above sample would be $15 per 

 ton. 



The manurial value of the wool-waste depends upon its 

 mechanical condition and on its percentage of nitrogen, which 

 may vary as much as 100 per cent, from each other in different 

 lots. To render coarse wool-refuse ready for assimilation 

 requires a more thorough process of disintegration than in 

 case of tine wool-dust. The latter, if incorporated in the barn- 

 yard manure during the autumn, will yield freely its nitrogen 

 for plant-growth during the succeeding summer season. 

 Coarse wool-refuse has been successfully composted with 

 burnt lime, by forming alternate layers of both substances 

 and covering the entire mass with moist earth from four to 

 live inches thick. The compost thus prepared at the close of 

 the year is, after a few turnings during the winter season, tit 

 for an efficient spring application. Some recommend to work 

 the wool-refuse with waste, containing sulphuric acid (1.5 to 

 1.6 specific gravity) at ordinary temperature into a paste, and 

 to keep the mass from time to time stirring until the wool 

 turns slimy, then to add subsequently for every 100 pounds 

 of sulphuric acid used, 200 pounds of tine ground bones with 

 a sufficient amount of water to merely moisten the entire 

 mass. The material resulting is, after a week or two keeping, 

 ready for use, and deserves no doubt a high recommendation, 

 wherever rich nitrogenous phosphates are needed for a 

 successful crop. 



Fine Horn- waste. 

 The sample came from a factory at Leominster, Mass., and , 

 consisted of a white, fine powder. It contained in 100 parts, — 



Moisture at 100 to 110° C, 10.27 per cent. 



Ash constituents, . . . . . . . . 1.05 " 



Organic matter, 88.68 " 



Nitrogen in organic matter, 16.10 " 



Clean horn- waste is a rich nitrogenous substance, yet diffi- 

 cult to decompose ; it ranks for this reason among the lowest in 



