Superphosphate of Lime. 
157 
7. That vitriolized bones may be used either alone or with 
other manures, and that when the latter are at hand, it is more 
advantageous to use the former in combination with them. For 
instance, if there are 30 acres to be prepared, and only sufficient 
dung to dress 15 acres, it is better to give a half-dressing of dung 
over the whole of the turnip break, and make up the deficiency 
by means of sulphated bones. Thus the plant will be forced in 
its early, and supported in its later growth. For the same reason 
vitriolized bones may be advantageously combined with guano. 
8. That vitriolized bones are equally advantageous to the second 
year's crop, when the turnips are either wholly or partially fed 
off with sheep. 
9. That while the economy of this manure is thus proved by 
practice, it can be as readily explamed by theory, e. g. : — The 
tops of swedes are known to possess double the phosphoric acid 
contained in the bulbs. Thus, the superphosphate of lime in the 
manure causes the rapid development of the leaves — one of its 
peculiar properties. The leaves being thus early and largely 
developed, are enabled to extract a considerable portion of nou- 
rishment from the atmosphere, much more indeed than where 
the leaves are small and backward. The difference between the 
amount of food derived from the atmosphere by a forward and 
flourishing crop, and that obtained by a backward and dwarfish 
crop, is so much absolute gain to the farmer, or rather to the 
land. It costs nothing on the one hand, but yields considerably 
to the land if the crop is fed off on the other. A manure that 
would thus force on the turnip in the early stages of its growth, 
was long felt to be a desideratum by agriculturists. This want 
has now been supplied, and even if this were the only recommen- 
dation sulphated bones possessed, its discovery and introduction 
would still be a boon. 
Lastly. The value of vitriolized bone may now be considered 
to be fully and fairly established. Its claims rest not on the 
assertions of a few experimenters; — it has been tried during the 
last season by hundreds with success, and in the next it will be 
tried by thousands. It affords in fact a triumphant answer to the 
question. What has science done for agriculture? 
Southampton. 27 Feb., 1846. 
*^* The preparation of bones for turnips, as described by Mr. 
Pusey (being heated with ashes), and other substances, has been long 
practised with success, and this preparation causes a softening of the 
substance so much that the smaller parts become immediately proper 
for the food of plants. — J. Kimberley. 
