On a Neio Mode of preparing Bones for Manure. 



419 



increase worth speaking of. It would be a fallacy, therefore, to 

 compare different manures without knowing- whether each had 

 been used to the proper extent and no further; and this is the 

 exasfgeration which I wished to avoid. 



The result of the whole seems to recommend decidedly the 

 mode of preparing bones which I propose^, and, but for the mistake 

 of mv men in mixing so small a proportion of sand, I believe the 

 effect would have been stronger. Practically I think that the 

 manuring virtue of bones is increased from three to four fold by 

 this simple process, which cannot be said to cost anything. It 

 is within reach of every one to practise on a large scale and at a 

 few days' notice. Though I mixed barren sand v/ith the bones 

 for the sake of experiment, any light loam would no doubt answer 

 as well or better — the soil itself, in fact, of any farm where bones 

 themselves are likely to answer ; and the labour is so trifling that 

 it is not worth speaking of. 



The quantity of bones applied should be between 5 bushels 

 and 8 bushels per acre. Bones prepared in this way do not pro- 

 duce at first so lively an effect on the young plants as bones pre- 

 pared with sulphuric acid. Thus, in this trial, lot 6 looked for 

 many weeks worse than its neighbours, yet in solid food that lot 

 has turned out the best of the whole. 



This mode of preparation has been tried, at my suggestion, by 

 a neighbouring farmer, Mr. Edmonds, who mixed up 80 bushels 

 of bones with sand in a single heap of a circular form, and, 

 having applied them at the rate of 8 bushels per acre^ tells me 

 that he shall henceforth use bones in no other manner. This is no 

 doubt the right shape for a heap, because the exterior being 

 cool will always remain unchanged, though this defect might be 

 removed by a covering of earth. Some bulk of bones is neces- 

 sary, I think, to produce the heat, and the bones, as well as the 

 material mixed with them, should be moistened if dry. 



Another farmer, Mr. Davy, who tried the mixture of bones 

 with ashes at my suggestion, informs me that 16 bushels of un- 

 prepared bones, 4 bushels of heated bones, and 2 bushels of 

 sulphated bones, or superphosphate, gave each the same yield of 

 swedes. The principle at work is evidently Putrefaction taking 

 place in the gelatinous substance of the bone ; but no diss^usting 

 smell is produced, merely a strong odour of ammonia when the 

 heap is opened. Most of this ammonia is probably drilled into 

 the land — an advantage over the process of dissolving bones in 

 acid, which seems to drive the ammonia away. 



In proposing this simple method I do not mean that other in- 

 gredients may not be mixed up advantageouslv, if experience 

 should prove their necessity. But this is less likely, as the whole 

 doctrine of manuring plants vriih the ingredients of then- ashes is 



