ANALYSES OF THE COTTON PLANT AND SEED. 201 



ing, crushing and burning, are the usual modes, but in order 

 to fit the crushed "bones or bone ashes for the greatest produc- 

 tion, Professor Von Liebig, recommends the following process : 



Pour over the crushed bones or bone ashes, half their weight 

 of sulphuric acid, diluted with four parts of water, and after 

 they have been digested for twenty -four hours, add one hun- 

 dred parts of water sprinkle this mixture over the field imme- 

 diately before ploughing. By its action, in a few seconds the 

 free acids unite with the bases contained in the earth, a 

 neutral salt is formed, in a very fine state of division. Ex- 

 periments instituted on soils, for the purpose of ascertaining 

 the action of manure prepared in this manner, have distinctly 

 shown that neither grain, nor kitchen garden plants, suffer 

 injurious effects in consequence, but that, on the contrary, 

 they thrive with much more vigor after its application. ( Vide 

 Von Liebig' s Organic Chemistry, American Edition, p. 230.) 



Another theory of application, by the great French chemist, 

 M. Dumas, the substance of which we give from his article 

 (contained in Comptes Rendus, Nov. 30, 1846, p. 1018,) "On 

 the Manner in which Phosphate of Lime enters Organized 

 Beings," is interesting. He remarks, that the phosphate of 

 lime being insoluble in water, nevertheless penetrates, and is 

 deposited in their structure, and bones containing it are slowly 

 disintegrated by the soil and disappear after a time, under 

 the influence of the rains. The investigations of M. Dumas 

 discovered two causes producing these effects the one acting 

 rarely and feebly the other constantly, and with great in 

 tensity. 



The first resides in a property possessed by salammoniac, 

 which facilitates the solution of phosphate of lime. Though 

 this salt dissolves a notable quantity, and exists in all running 

 waters yet, this slight proportion renders its action in this 

 respect inconsiderable. 

 9* 



