BONES. 217 



pulverized than in their natural condition. They are 

 ground into a powder, which is in part impalpable, 

 and are brought in this form into the market as a 

 manure. 



Composition of Strehla Bone-dust. 



Water, 10.0 



Organic substances, 20.2 



Bone-earth (61.5 phosphoric acid earths, and 

 8.3 carbonic acid, both combined with 

 lime), ........ 69.8 



100.0 

 Contents of nitrogen, .... 2.3 



Present market price, .... 7^. 2c?. 



A theorist will be forthwith prepared to pronounce 

 this judgment respecting the worth of this bone-meal : 

 " It is less valuable than the pow^der prepared from 

 crude bone, because a great part of its organic ele- 

 ments (nearly the half), and consequently of its ni- 

 trogen, has been withdrawn." But the practical 

 farmer is also ready with his opinion, and this, based 

 upon an experience of a several years' trial, is of the 

 following tenor: "Steamed bone-dust is of more 

 prompt and vigorous operation than crude, although 

 not quite as persistent in its effect upon the land, and 

 is for this reason more valuable to the farmer than 

 the latter." Little and quick accomplish here, as so 

 often in other things, just as much as much and sloiv, 

 and even more. In consequence of these favorable 

 practical results, farmers in Saxony prefer to buy it, 

 19 



