ANIMAL CHARCOAL AS A MANURE. 
305 
field sowed with buckwheat, which might also be 
turned under, seeding down the field with rye. 
It strikes me that this would be a reasonable 
mode of reclaiming these lands ; for the soil in a 
cheap way would be improved physically, and it 
would have added to it almost two crops of vege- 
table matter, which I believe it most wants — and 
it would have the benefit of having been com- 
pletely sheltered during the whole season, which I 
think, also, is one of the greatest advantages to 
successful tillage ; for, in their exposed situation, 
the sun dries up almost all the vegetation, and 
therefore there is a want of the vegetable matter 
found in good, productive soils. 
This system would be, of course, primary to 
subsequent good tillage by the best rotation of 
crops, and the liberal use of fish, sea weed, and 
other manures which are to be obtained in abund- 
ance in the vicinity. Henry A. Field. 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August, 1849. 
o 
ANIMAL CHARCOAL AS A MANURE. 
Farmers should be continually reminded of the 
great advantage which a large city offers to them in 
the means of supplying manure. For instance, 
the refuse of manufactories, in most cases, is capa- 
ble of being converted into some compost fitted by 
slight additions of saline substances, to become the 
most suitable fertilizer to growing crops. 
Bone dust and bones, in every shape, now occu- 
py a high arid undisputed position in the list of 
artificial manures, and any mode of obtaining them 
readier and cheaper than by the purchase of the 
fresh article, is a boon to the agriculturist ; and 
this, a large city like New York most abundantly 
supplies. 
The refuse animal charcoal left after sugar refin- 
ing may be used as a substitute in many instances 
with even more utility than bone dust itself. This 
refuse does not appear to have always a constant 
composition, but varies slightly when obtained from 
different establishments. This is due to the adop- 
tion of different modes of manufacture. The char- 
coal, in some cases, is only used in one operation of 
refining, while in others it is burnt a second, and 
even a third time, carrying on two or three refin- 
ings before it is rejected as refuse. This, of course, 
alters the composition to a small extent. Animal 
charcoal, when freshly made by burning bones in 
close vessels, whereby a greater proportion of the 
animal matter of the bones is driven off, consists of 
the earthy part of the bones, and about 10 per cent, 
of carbon. 
I have lately had an opportunity of examining 
two specimens sent for analysis to the laboratory 
of the American Agricultural Association, the com- 
position of which was as follows : — 
No. i. 
Charcoal, .... 34.00 
Phosphate and carbonate of 
lime and magnesia, . . 62.25 
Sugar and organic coloring 
matter with isinglass, . 2.35 
Water, . . . .1.40 
No. ii. 
12 
65 
10 
13 
100.00 100 
No. i. would appear to have been used frequently 
by the large amount of charcoal in it, the quantity 
of carbon which burnt bones alone would possess 
being not above that in No. n. Hence, it is likely 
it was obtained by the burning of the sugar and 
coloring matters obtained by a previous refining. 
From this abundance of charcoal, it would form a 
more valuable compost than No. n., but it has less 
of the sugar and coloring matters, which, by their 
ready decomposition, warm the ground. In this 
respect No. n. excels. The quantity of bone earth 
in both are almost alike, and exceed the quantity 
in the same weight of bone dust or guano ; so that, 
when these manures are used for the sake of phos- 
phate of lime, the charcoal is preferable as con- 
taining them more abundantly. No. ii. also con- 
tains an unusually large quantity of water. Taken 
as a whole, I believe it more nearly represents the 
average constitution of refuse animal charcoal. I 
think it would make a valuable manure for pear 
trees and orchards generally. 
Thomas Antisell, Chemist to A. A. A., 
187 Grand st., N. Y. 
THE COW-HER DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT.— 
No. 17. 
Staggers, or Dizziness. — The cause of this dis- 
order is a general affection of the brain, particularly 
showing itself in the state of the optic nerves. As 
its name imports, it manifests itself in dizziness of 
the head, causing a waving and staggering motion 
of the body, by which it is chiefly distinguished. 
In the treatment of this malady, bleeding should 
be performed as soon as the symptoms are perceiv- 
ed, to the extent of three pints, if the cow is in 
good condition, and one half the quantity if she be 
poor. Her bowels should then be cleared out by a 
saline purge, say three fourths of a pound of Epsom 
salts, immediately after which the following anti- 
spasmodic should be given, at one dose, in a pint 
and a half of horse-radish tea : — 
Valerian. % oz. ; assafoetida, % drachm ; nitre, (saltpetre.) l)a 
oz. ; camphor, 1)^ drachms. 
This dose may be repeated once every twenty-four 
hours, until the symptoms subside. 
The regimen of the animal, during her illness, 
should consist of thin diluent drinks, such as water 
gruel, mashes of barley or Indian meal. Great 
care should also be observed that she does not ex- 
pose herself to the extremes of moisture, heat, and 
cold. 
Lethargy, or Sleeping Fever. — The animal, in 
this disease, is inclined to continued dozing, or 
sleep, even in a standing posture, by resting her 
nose on the manger, or crib, being constantly in 
danger of falling, apparently from dizziness. This 
evidently shows an oppression on the brain, and a 
fullness of the head, the blood vessels of which 
are unable to expel their contents, or carry on the 
circulation sufficiently active. The chief point, 
then, is to remove the existing accumulation, or 
oppression, the cause of the disease, and then to 
give vigor to the system, in order to prevent its 
recurrence. 
Moderate bleeding will afford almost immediate 
relief, which should be followed, as in the " stag- 
gers," just described, by the same attention to the 
opening of the bowels. These steps being pre- 
mised, anti-spasmodics will then complete the cure. 
