§64 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
foreign (Eomsptmbenrr. 
MR. NORTON’S LETTERS—No. Y. 
Lab. of Ag. Chemistry Association. ? 
Edinburgh, Sept. 24, 1844. $ 
Messes. Editors —In the August number of the Culti¬ 
vator I noticed a paragraph, attributing much value to 
horn piths as a manure. It especially interested me, as 
I have lately made an analysis of these piths, or flints, as 
they are called in this country. They are sold in this ci¬ 
ty for $4 a ton, and are shipped to Manchester and else¬ 
where, for the purpose of making size for calicoes. The 
specimen analyzed by myself was sent to the Laboratory 
by a gentleman who wished to know its agricultural va¬ 
lue. The result was as follows: 
Water.. 10-31 
Organic matter, fat, gelatine, &c..35-84 
Ash—consisting of Phosphate of Lime, 46-14, Car¬ 
bonate of Lime, 7-71,».... 53 85 
100-00 
We thus have in these horn flints a most powerful ma¬ 
nure, both as to its organic and inorganic constituents, 
fully equal to bones. In England such manures are not 
suffered “ to lie on the hill sides” and “ manure the air.” 
Bones, as containing nearly every substance required for 
the growth of crops, have now an undisputed place 
among the very first of fertilizers. They are brought 
here from all quarters of the world, and to our shame it - 
is a fact that English agents are purchasing them in the 
United States. You may truly ask “ what is the use of 
importing guano, or buying poudrette,” when we are 
neglecting a manure, nearly equal in its immediate effects 
*o either of them, and far more permanent. 
The price of bones in this country is from £5 to £6 per 
*>n. When buried whole, they remain for a long time 
almost unchanged in appearance, but nevertheless afford 
a constant though limited supply of nourishment to the 
crops. As they are generally applied in the crushed 
state, the effect is more striking and immediate. Even 
then, it is permanent and has been known to last for 30 
years. It has been a disputed point, whether the fertili¬ 
zing action of bones is due to the organic or inorganic 
part. Some celebrated authorities have not hesitated to 
ascribe it wholly to the phosphates of the latter, but we 
know that the gelatine or glue of the former is also a ve¬ 
ry powerful manure, and that even at the end of many 
years, a portion of it still is retained in the bone, practi¬ 
cally refuting those who have founded their arguments 
upon its perishability. It is far safer to conclude that 
both portions have their appropriate action and that both 
are necessary. 
The horn flints cannot well be crushed in a bone mill 
as from their softness they clog the mill. They may 
however be with much advantage dissolved in sulphuric 
acid. This mixture, of sulphuric acid with bones, has 
within a few years come into use in this country, and is 
one of the beautiful results of science applied to agricul¬ 
ture. Prof. Johnston has furnished me with some state¬ 
ments upon this subject, from which I will quote, as facts 
are worth far more than words to the farmer. Mr. Bell, 
the farm steward at Gordon Castle, conducted experiments 
m four different ways: 
1. One Imperial acre manured with 8 bushels bones and 
4-4 cubic yards farm yard dung at £3, produced 12 tons of 
turneps. 
2. One do. manured with 2 cwt. 91 lbs. guano, and 14 
cubic yards farm yard dung at £1 17s. 4 d. produced 11 
tons 4 cwt. 
3. One do. manured with 16 bushels of bones, at £1 
16s. produced 11 tons. 
4. One do. manured with 83 lbs. sulphuric acid and 2 
bushels bone dust, mixed with 700 gallons water, at lls. 
6d. produced 12 tons 4 cwt. 
Mr. Manson of Spynie, gives a similar result. In his 
field of 21 acres of turneps, 13 were sown with farm yard 
dung, and 8 with bones and sulphuric acid. 20 cart loads 
of the dung were applied per acre at a cost of £2 10s. 
Of bones 4 bushels and sulphuric acid 96 lbs per acre; the 
Mixture largely diluted with water; the result Was: 
Sulphuric acid and bones at £1 per acre, produced 12 
tons 5 cwt. 80 lbs. 
Farm yard manure at £2 10s. per acre, produced 10 tons 
17 cwt. 104 lbs. 
Mr. McWilliam of the Sheriffston farm in Morayshire 
has furnished a report of 19 experiments made on 30 
acres of turneps, which all go to prove, as instances above, 
the very great value and economy of this application. 
The best method of preparation is to dissolve the bones 
in acid so weakened by water that it will not char them. 
When they are completely dissolved it is ready for use. 
Those experiments seem to have been most successful 
when the solution of bones thus prepared was very largely 
diluted with water, so as to make it nearly tasteless. It 
is applied by means of carts contrived for the purpose. 
It would be less expensive, if instead of diluting with wa¬ 
ter the solution were taken up by peat or some other ab¬ 
sorbent and sown by hand—the immediate effect, however 
would not be as great. 
Sulphuric acid alone has been found to exercise the 
same beneficial action upon clover, that attends the use 
of gypsum, (sulphate of lime) and it is therefore with ev¬ 
ery prospect of benefit that this mixture, containing not 
only the sulphuric acid and the lime, but the other sub¬ 
stances which plants most need, might in such a diluted 
state be applied as a top dressing to clover and all those 
crops upon which gypsum has been found to produce a 
good effect. Of course the first trials should be madecau- 
tiously, and in small quantities. 
As in a former letter I wrote at some length of guanos, 1 
may mention that I have recently examined a specimen of 
an artificial guano, known as Potter’s Guano. It has been 
sold somewhat extensively, and he professes to adapt its 
composition to various soils. A former specimen ana¬ 
lyzed here contained 30 per cent of sand,and this was sent 
to ascertain if similar fraud had been practiced. My 
result shows that he has been a little more cautious in 
this instance. 
Water,. 14-55 
Organic matter,.. 17-32 
Portion soluble in water, consisting chiefly of 
sulphate of soda, common salt and gypsum, 
with a small quantity of potash and ammonia- 
cal salts,. 40*43 
Phosphate and carb. of lime,. 11-61 
Coarse sand with bits of gypsum,. 16-06 
99-97 
There is much here that is valuable, but the prudent 
farmer would think twice before he paid $15 or $20 a ton 
for a manure containing 30 per cent of sand and water. 
A microscopic examination showed it to contain woolen 
clippings, seeds, horn shavings, bits of sticks, leaves and 
weeds, sand, small stones, pieces of gypsum and several 
kinds of salts. 
A specimen of an adulterated guano has also lately 
been examined here. It contained about 40 per cent of 
gypsum to 25 of water and sand. There was also a large 
quantity of some finely powdered material, probably coal 
ashes, mingled with it to give the proper color. This is 
the first instance of adulteration that has come under our 
notice. This laboratory has been a terror to evil doers 
throughout Scotland. 
In my last letter I spoke of the examination in Glasgow 
of some boys from the Larne school. A letter received 
from Dr. Kirkpatrick states that the effect had been won¬ 
derful, spreading through all Ireland. Repeated applica¬ 
tions have been made to the commissioners of schools to 
establish similar institutions. The number of applicants 
for admission to the Larne school has much increased, and 
they have been thronged with visiters. Mr. Colman has 
been there with Dr. Daubeny. 
The schoolmasters of Scotland held their annual meet¬ 
ing here, a few days since. Prof. Johnston delivered 
two most admirable lectures of which I send a report. 
They were received with great interest, with even en¬ 
thusiasm. Spirited resolutions were passed, and the whohs 
body dispersed to the various parts of Scotland, determin 
ed to introduce agricultural instruction into all the prima¬ 
ry schools. 
Very truly yours, 
JohnP. NoETOfr. 
