212 BOxNES. 



tion is not perceived. Such an assumption is erro- 

 neous, because the newly-formed gypsum remains 

 as a fine powder in the mass, and makes it thick 

 and pappy. To ascertain whether the intended soft- 

 ening of the bones is attained or not, rub a portion 

 of the paste between the fingers, whereby hard grains, 

 be they ever so few, will be detected, or wash the 

 pap upon a fine tin colander, by which means, in like 

 manner, hard grits, if existing only in small quantity, 

 will be left behind. When, on the other hand, muri- 

 atic acid is employed in dissolving bones, a real and 

 complete solution of the bone-earth is obtained. 



By this treatment the two most important constit- 

 uents of bones, gelatine (rich in nitrogen) and phos- 

 phoric acid, are reduced to a form so readily capable 

 of dissolution and decay, that their operation may 

 now be regarded as most vigorous in the first year. 

 The dried mass, frequently mixed with earthy sub- 

 stances, and met with under the name of sulphate of 

 bones, or superphosphate of lime, forms, at the present 

 day, one of the artificial manures in greatest request 

 in England, more particularly for the culture of tur- 

 nips and other roots, and is there prepared, as an 

 article of manufacture, in large establishments. 



From many experiments which I have instituted, 

 for the purpose of being enabled to recommend to 

 farmers a simple mode of treating bones with sul- 

 phuric acid, that may be carried out on any farm, 

 thus much first of all may be advanced, — that a sat- 

 isfactory result is to be attained only with finely com- 



