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The basis of bones is constituted by earthy salts, principally 

 phosphate of lime, with some carbonate of lime, and phosphate 

 of magnesia : the easily decomposable substances in bone, are 

 fat, gelatine, and cartilage, which seems of the same nature as 

 coagulated albumen. 



[Superphosphate of lime. Onelbof bone dust mixed with twelve 

 oz. of sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) and twelve oz. of water if left 

 to act upon each other for a day form superphosphate of lime, a 

 wine-glass of which has been found beneficial to geraniums. There 

 is little doubt that this superphosphate is excellent manure for 

 flowers, and all kitchen garden crops, being more prompt in its 

 effect than simple bone dust, because it is soluble in water and 

 therefore more readily presented to the roots in a state for them 

 to imbibe. Bones broken into small pieces mixed with charcoal 

 are good drainage for geranium and other soft wooded plants. 

 To prepare superphosphate puddle and plaster a floor of clay ; 

 when dry throw down a quantity of bone dust and surround it 

 with an edging of ashes on this pour the proportion of Sul- 

 phuric acid keeping well to windward in so doing, let the mass 

 seethe a day and it will become superphosphate. ED.] 



Horn is a still more powerful manure than bone, as it contains 

 a larger quantity of decomposable animal matter : 100 grains of 

 ox-horn yield only 1/5 grains of earthy residuum, and not quite 

 half of this is phosphate of lime. The shavings and turnings of 

 horn form an excellent manure, the animal matter in them ap- 

 pearing of the nature of coagulated albumen, which is slowly 

 rendered soluble by the action of water. The earthy matter in 

 horn, and still more in bones, prevents the too rapid decomposi- 

 tion of the animal matter, and renders the effects very durable. 



Blood contains certain quantities of all the principles found in 

 other animal substances, and is therefore a very good manure. 

 Magazine of Domestic Economy. 



[Burnt Earth Is a very valuable manure, particularly for Roses, 

 for Fuschias and all delicate soft wooded plants. The following is 

 a good method of burning earth in a large quantity. Collect in a 

 heap a number of rough branches and litter from pruning opera- 

 tions, build a wall of turf about three feet high of a semi-circu- 



