Works on Gardening, S^-c. 321 



light soils ; and Mr. Johnson's pamphlet concludes with the fol- 

 lowing general directions for their use : — 



The crushed bones have been invariably found more immediately beneficial 

 as a fertiliser, when suffered to remain previously for some weeks, mixed with 

 earth in heaps, exposed to the action of the atmosphere. By being thus fer- 

 mented and dissolved, they are necessarily more speedily serviceable as food to 

 the plants to which they are applied ; and this observation more especially 

 relates to the oat, barley, and other spring corn, since these do not remain on 

 the ground for so long a period as other agricultural crops. The proportion is 

 50 bushels of bones, with five loads of earth or clay ; or 40 bushels to five 

 loads of common dung. 



For wheat, and pasture lands, the previous fermentation of the bones is, 

 for this reason, not so essential to the production of immediate benefit. 



It is impossible to give any general directions for the quantity of bones to be 

 applied per acre, since soil, situation, and climate, must all be taken into the 

 farmer's consideration. 



Tlie following facts, however, have been ascertained by numerous experi- 

 Iments, at some of which I have personally assisted : — 



1st. That crushed bones remain in the soil for a length of time proportionate 

 to the size of the pieces ; the dust producing the most immediate effect, the 

 larger pieces continuing to show the longest advantage. On arable land their 

 good effects continue for four years ; on pasture land for eight. 



2dly. On turnips, oats, barley, and wheat, the quantity applied has been from 

 25 to 30 bushels, per acre ; on pasture land, from 25 to 40 bushels of bone 

 dust, early in the spring. 



3dly. The best mode of application is by the drill, with the seed corn. 



4thly. The bones should, when first used, be always applied for the sake of 

 correct information, in varying quantities per acre ; and on no account should 

 the farmer omit to leave, by way of comparison, a fair portion of the field 

 without any manure. 



Mr. Johnson deserves the thanks of the public for having 

 produced this useful pamphlet. We wish we could impress 

 upon gardeners the value of bones as a manure ; because there 

 is not a gentleman's gardener in Britain who cannot command a 

 certain quantity of them, which are at present lost for every 

 useful purpose. The bones could be deposited in the back 

 sheds, and broken by the men during wet or inclement weather ; 

 and afterwards fermented in the compost ground with common 

 garden earth. In the composition of vine borders, powdered 

 bones, which have been fermented, form a most valuable in- 

 gredient. 



Art. III. Catalogue of Works on Gardening, Agriculture, Botany, 

 Rural Architecture, 8fc., lately published, tvith some Account of those 

 considered the more interesting. 



Catalogue, et Prix-Courant pour 1836, de la Collection 

 de Plantes de L. Jacob Mahoy, Horticidteur, Rue Neuville sur 

 Avroy, a Liege, contains 48 printed pages, and is chiefly rich in 

 stove plants. Of Orchidaceas alone M. Makoy reckons above 200 

 species, varying in prices from 2 to 100, and even 150, francs a 

 plant; which last price is that charged for Oncidium macrobul- 



