1136 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



soil, and particularly so in . heavy and wet clays. Pulverised 

 bones form an excellent permanent manure for Vine-borders ; 

 they are especially adapted for light sandy or loamy soils, 

 also in other cultures where a slow action is required. 



Bones, bone-meal, and lightly-boiled bone-dust should contain 

 from 40 per cent, to 50 per cent, of phosphates, about 30 per 

 cent, of organic matter, and from 3 per cent, to 4 per cent, of 

 nitrogen, equal to about 4 per cent, or 5 per cent, of ammonia. 

 As a general rule, the more finely bones are crushed, or ground, 

 the better they are adapted for manurial purposes, and the quicker 

 they act. They are, however, used in various degrees of fineness 

 — as iin. bones, -|in. bones, bone-meal, and steamed bone-flour. 

 The following table shows the composition of raw bones, bone- 

 meal, and boiled bones, each being of good quality : 



PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF BONE MANURES. 



The figures show that there is but little difference in the 

 manurial value of bones and bone-meal, only the meal gives up 

 its fertilising properties more quickly. Bones that have been highly 

 "steamed or boiled to obtain gelatine for glue-making have lost 

 much of their organic matter and nitrogen. This is clearly 

 shown in the third column of the table, there being a loss of 

 10 per cent, of the former and about 2 per cent, loss of the 

 latter substance. Steamed bone-meal, however, forms a good 

 phosphatic manure, containing, as it does, 60 per cent, of 

 phosphates. 



These manures are very helpful to lawns and paddocks, greatly 

 improving the character of the grasses ; also for Turnips, Beet, 

 Radishes, Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Peas, fruit-trees, and flowers 

 generally. Bone-manures are best used in conjunction with 



