186 MANURES. 



and nitrate of potash (saltpetre), which will render 

 it an excellent manure. 



348. Bones, consisting, as before stated, of phos- 

 phate of lime, carbonate of lime, and gelatine (glue), 

 possess great fertilizing powers. In England, they are 

 used very much for the turnip crop, and are regarded 

 as an excellent means of preparing the ground for 

 whatever crop is to succeed. There they are often 

 ground to different degrees of fineness. If very fine, 

 they act powerfully, but not for a long time ; if coarse, 

 their action is gradual, but very lasting. Prof John- 

 stone informs us that as applied to pastures about 25 

 years ago, their action is still most distinctly seen ; 

 that in some cases pastures then dressed with bones, 

 now rent for twice as much as others side by side and 

 equally good by nature, which have had no bone- 

 dressing. 



349. Another mode in which bones are managed in 

 England, and by some in our country, is to dissolve 

 them in sulphuric acid. If put into a large tub, and 

 moistened with about one-third their weight of sul- 

 phuric acid, diluted with five or six times as much 

 water, the acid being sprinkled on a little at a time 

 for several days, they will settle down into a salvy 

 mass, which mayl^e mixed with dried peat or loam, 

 and put into the hill, or be sown broadcast and har- 

 rowed in. This is an excellent manure for turnips, 

 Indian corn, or wheat 



350. Where few bones are to be had, as in ordinary 



