50 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Bones are true phosphatic manures, although they contain a 

 small percentage of nitrogen. The sample quoted in the diagram 

 contains in each one ton, 80 lbs. of nitrogen, 515 lbs. of phos- 

 phoric acid, and 1,200 lbs. of lime. 



Bone meal and steamed bone flour are usually in a very fine 

 state of division, and the phosphoric acid, in the steamed material, 

 is in a more soluble condition than in raw bone meal, conse- 

 quently it readily decomposes in the soil, and is specially suitable 

 when early vegetable growth is required. 



Bones finely ground are much more effective than |-inch 

 or J -inch bones, because the material can be more thoroughly 

 distributed in the soil, and consequently comes into action with 

 greater rapidity. 



Care is required in buying bone manures, as they are some- 

 times adulterated either with chalk or gypsum. 



Mineral superphosphate is the cheapest source of soluble 

 phosphate ; the ordinary quality is guaranteed to contain from 

 25 to 28 per cent, of phosphate made soluble. Superphosphate, 

 however, is frequently made containing as much as 35 or even 

 10 per cent, of soluble phosphate. While by a special process 

 what is called "double " or very concentrated superphosphates 

 are manufactured containing 70 per cent, or more of phosphate 

 made soluble. Double superphosphate is as good as free from 

 sulphuric acid, and may contain three times as much phosphoric 

 acid as ordinary superphosphate, so that the cost of transporta- 

 tion per ton of phosphoric acid is reduced to a third or even to 

 one-half, whilst the unit of phosphoric acid does not cost more in 

 double superphosphate than in the less valuable superphosphate. 



Concentrated phosphatic manures are especially valuable for 

 the purpose of ensuring a very rapid and vigorous early growth 

 of plants. 



We learn from investigations by Professor Wagner with 

 vines, fruit trees, and berry-bearing shrubs, that a great deal 

 depends upon these plants producing leaves rapidly and abun- 

 dantly in the early spring, also upon the blossoms appearing at 

 the right time, and upon the fructification ensuing vigorously; 

 ina much as the more completely all these phenomena take 

 pi are tin- more certain are the prospects of a fruit production 

 tatUfaotorj both for quantity and quality. In the case of 

 kitchen vegetables and all seedlings, it is also of great advantage 



