Bones and Sulphuric Acid as Manures. 4G5 
application which can be made of the liquid, as the free acid in 
the solution will combine with the ammonia in the liquid, and form 
soluble salts of ammonia, which, while they materially assist vegeta- 
tion, will not waste, as the carbonate of ammonia which exists in 
the liquid is apt to do. Nor, indeed, will 600 or 800 gallons of 
liquid manure be a trifling addition to the fertiUzing influence of 
the bones. 
The quantify of water hitherto used has varied from 50 to 100 
times the weight of the acid, but in all cases it is the rule to 
mix the acid with only twice or thrice its weight of water until 
the bone is dissolved ; the use of the larger quantity being merely 
to diffuse the preparation more thoroughly in the soil, and to pre- 
vent any injurious eflfect upon the seed or plant from the strength 
of the acid. As, however, the free acid which is in the mixture, 
when spread upon the land, soon combines with the alkalies in the 
soil, and forms various salts, the smallest quantity of water that 
will serve to diff"use the mixture evenly I have no doubt may be 
used safely ; the effect of such an application has not yet been tried. 
Should the result, however, of such trial answer my expectations, 
the use of the preparation will be greatly facilitated, as the quantity 
of water which has to be procured is an obstacle of consequence to 
many. The difference in the quantity required will be seen from 
the number of gallons of water required for 4 bushels of bones, and 
2 bushels of bones, diluted with water : — 
Water 100 fold 
weight of Acid. 
Water 50 fold 
weight of Acid. 
Water 25 fold 
weight of Acid. 
Water 10 fold 
weight of Acid. 
4 bush. Bones . ) 
12 St. of Acid ./ 
1680 galls. 
840 galls. 
420 galls. 
168 galls. 
2 bush. Bones . 1 
6 St. of Acid . J 
840 „ 
420 „ 
210 „ 
84 „ 
4th. The mode of preparing the mixture is very simple. The 
general rule is to put the bones into a wooden vessel, and to pour 
upon them twice their weight of water and half their weight of 
acid. The bones, if unburnt, require to hi finely powdered. 
After the acid has been added the mixture is covered up, and 
allowed to stand two or three days. In this time nearly all the 
bones will be dissolved, or at least reduced to a fine powder; if so 
it is fit for use, and the proper quantity of Avater may be added to 
dilute it. Thus, in one bushel of bones we shall have 
21 lbs' of A^r ' * V"* gallons of water, 
63 lbs! of Water *. '.J ^"^'^ ''^^ ^'''^^^ 
The mixture may be prepared as easily on a large scale. To do 
this it will be necessary in the first place to provide several large 
