452 
Bones and Sulphuric Acid as Manures. 
in the season, I only got a small portion raised as I intended, and 
which, from the experience 1 have had, I consider the most advis- 
able, when there is a deficiency of farm-yard manure, to apply 
along with foreigri. That is^ to get the finest bone-dust I can, 
and to sift out the finest of that, which I apply at the rate of 
4 bushels per Scots acre, made into liquid with sulphuric acid 
and water, as in the preceding years, 1842-3. The bone-dust 
that was kept up by the sieve I mixed at the rate of 10 bushels 
bones and cwt. of guano per Scots acre, and sown. In so far 
as this was gone into this season, the turnips in both cases are 
decidedly superior in weight of bulb to those raised with 3 cwt., 
and in part 4 cwt. guano per Scots acre : the guano throws up a 
flush of tops, but do not bulb in proportion. The rest of the field 
was completed with bone dust alone, at 20 bushels per acre, after 
a supply was obtained, but rather late to compare with the others : 
the turnips, however, are about equal with those raised with the 
guano, which were earlier sown. 
Geo. M'Wjlli.\m. 
Sheriffston, 25th Nov., 1844. 
No. 5. — Chi the Action and Application of Dissolved Bones. 
By John Hannam. 
The results of several experiments with bones dissolved in acid 
have been lately published. To these the attention of tlie public 
has been called, through the pages of the Journal, as affording good 
hope that the application will be foimd to be one of the most im- 
portant savings which was ever held out in use of manure, and 
one which is likely to be generally useful. 
When, now, it is considered how extensively bones are employed 
in the production of the turnip crop ; that any improvement in 
their economy must be as extensively felt ; and that we are in- 
debted to science for this sugfofestion ; it cannot be uninteresting to 
inquire how far these anticipations are likely to be realized. 
Our object, therefore, is to learn upon what grounds these ex- 
pectations are based ; for which purpose it will be necessary to 
examine the action and application of the tillage as laid down by 
theory or developed by practice. 
The theory of the action of dissolved bones has been thus put 
by Mr. Pusey (Journal, vol. iv., p. 408) : — 
'■ Bones may be roughly stated to consist of fat, of jelly, and of an 
earthy matter called phosphate of lime. When they were first emi)]oyed 
as manure it was doubtful, of course, to which of these substances tliey 
owed their beneficial effect, and many persons were unwilling to pur- 
chase bones which had been boiled, and had consequently lost their 
