200 BONES. 



100,000 cwt., and half this quantity, if not still more, 

 is imported from the immediately adjacent countries. 

 If, on a moderate assumption, the total produce 

 which is gained from 1 cwt. of bone-dust is esti- 

 mated at 2 Saxon bushels of rye, the quantity of this 

 substance that is yearly consumed in Saxony leads 

 to an increased yield of 300,000 bushels of rye. 



1. Constituents and Operation of Bone-dust. 



Bones consist of an earthy tissue of fine cells, in 

 which an organic substance called gelatine is in- 

 closed. The gelatine contains a great abundance of 

 nitrogen, and readily putrefies when moistened with 

 water and left standing in the air ; in this way the 

 nitrogen becomes fit for the nourishment of plants, 

 and causes an extremely rapid and vigorous vegeta- 

 tion, as may be readily perceived by pouring glue- 

 water or animal broth upon any flower. The forcing' 

 power which finely powdered bone-dust exercises 

 upon vegetable growth is owing to the gelatine it 

 contains. Gelatine does not take on the putrefac- 

 tive process when air and moisture are excluded. 



The earthy constituents of bones are composed 

 principally of phosphate of lime, which in like man- 

 ner exerts an exceedingly beneficial influence upon 

 the growth of plants, and in especial is very favor- 

 able to the development and formation of the seed. 

 Hence the abundant produce of healthy grain after 

 dressing with bone-dust. Besides this substance, 

 bones contain carbonate of lime, and also, for the 



