202 COTTOX PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



The second is found in the action of carbonic acid ; and in 

 this, the true solvent of phosphate of lime is to be found for 

 water impregnated with carbonic acid dissolves large quanti- 

 ties of phosphate of lime. M. M. Berzilius and Thenard, had 

 remarked the alkalies and ebullition, by driving off, or neu- 

 tralizing the carbonic acid which precipitated it. 



M. Dumas, believing the action of the carbonic acid to be 

 such as above stated, did not doubt the effect it would pro- 

 duce on the bones themselves. He therefore introduced plates 

 of ivory into bottles of Seltzer water, (which contains a great 

 deal of carbonic acid,) and they were as much softened in 

 twenty -four hours, as if acted on by dilute hydro-chloric acid, 

 which is also a powerful solvent of phosphate of lime. The 

 Seltzer water was found loaded with phosphate of lime, and 

 the experiment proved the action of carbonic acid as its sol- 

 vent, to be both rapid and certain. I am sure this discovery 

 will be of importance to the Agricultural world. 



I would call the attention of physiologists to this property 

 in carbonic acid, as it satisfactorily explains the transforma- 

 tion of the phosphate of lime into plants. Of course, it would 

 not be practicable to dissolve the phosphate of lime by the 

 aid of Seltzer water, but the preparation of bone ashes by its 

 known and powerful constituent, might be rendered available 

 in the following manner. Where bone powder or ashes is 

 intended for manuring soil destitute of vegetable matter, let 

 them be mixed with leaves or other organic matter, and its 

 decomposition with the aid of the rains and atmospherical 

 influence, will create a sufficient quantity of carbonic acid to 

 assimilate the phosphates in such a form, that they will be 

 readily taken up by the organism of the plants. 



How easily could a planter manure a few acres of cotton 

 with bone powder or ashes ! When all the bones are hoarded 

 as gold, and their true value known, they will be appreciated. 



