■ PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 287 



applyin^^ it to two acres of them, and how iiinch is neccsssvy to put in a 

 stump two feet across ? 



>[r. Solon Robinson. — I w'onld not rccoinmeml trying- it upon an exten- 

 sive scale until its cnioicncy has been satisfactorily tried upon oije or two 

 stumps. Bore an aug'er hoh^ in a green stump and put in from one to two 

 gills, and pin;;* up. It would be well to try the cxi)eiiment upon standing' 

 trees. If it kills them it will loosen the roots so that by a little Avork'in 

 dig'ging' around, the tree can be made to pull out its own stump. 



Leaves — How to Preserve Colors. 



;Mr. Not wotting, Akron, Ohio, wants to know " how to preserve the color 

 of forest leaves.'' 



Mr. Solon Kobinson. — They should be placed jmmodiately between folds 

 of pap(>r ami pressed. Some persons dip them in a solution of gum Arabic. 

 Glycerine is also recommended. 



Mr. I)udgc said that the best plan he had ever seen adr?[3ted for preserv- 

 ing leaves was to keep them in the shade until wilted, and then press them 

 with a pretty hot flat-iron. 



Bones — How to Dissolve in Sulphuric Acid. 



Mr. L. 0. llalleck. Millers Place, Suifolk coulity, L. I., "wants to know 

 liow much acid it will take to dissolve a ton, and what is the price per gal- 

 lon; also, if tubs or barrels will hold it, and if it should be covered during- 

 the process of dissolving. I have heard of bones being placed in a heap of 

 muck and leaves, in order to receive the acid, but whether it answered the 

 end sought for was not stated." 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — Mix one gallon of acid with five gallons of water. 

 If this does not prove strong enough add more acid. One of the members 

 says 340 pounds of acid to twenty-five bushels of fine bones, wet with 

 eighteen gallons boiling water; after two days mix with two cartloads of 

 light mold; turn the heap several times, as it will take seven or eight 

 weeks for the bones to decompose. Another says 500 pounds acid, 300 

 pounds guano, one ton of bones; each pound of acid requires nine pounds 

 of water. Wooden vessels will nijt answer. Use a large iron kettle 

 painted thickly with clay dissolved in skim-milk. Bones may be dissolved 

 in a heap of anything Ihat'v/ill give a hot fermentation. 



Dr. Ward. — What is the comparative value of guano and bones ? Peru- 

 vian guano at over $100 a ton, is so high that man}' people doubt the 

 policy of tising it, yet we must have something. Shall we buy superphos- 

 phate or bone dust at 850 a ton ? 



Mr. Solon Robinson.— ^For immediate effect, guano is best. For lasting 

 efl'ects, bone dust is worth as much or more per ton than guano. 



Mr. George liartlett. — For durability it is not necessary that bones should 

 be converted into superphosphate; that is dissolved in acid. The best ves- 

 sel to u.se for acid i.s a leaden one. But bones can be easily reduced by the 

 hammer and fermentation to an economical shape for manure. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — I would prefer a ton of bone dust to a ton of 

 guano, the guano only lasts one season, while bone dust lasts many years. 



