1850. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
151 
trtitxz from $)rof. Norton—No. 4. 
Neglected Manures—Bones. 
Analytical Laboratory, Yale College, ] 
New-Haven , Conn., March 7, 1850. j 
Eds. Cultivator —The very important method 
for the application of bones, to which I alluded in 
the closing paragraph of my last letter, is that of 
dissolving them in sulphuric acid, the common oil of 
vitriol. Before describing the various ways of doing 
this, one or two other points must first be considered. 
The first which I would notice is, that the phos¬ 
phates of lime which compose bones, and in fact all 
of their earthy parts, are nearly insoluble in water ; 
hence their action, unless added in a state of extreme¬ 
ly minute division, or in very large quantity, is often 
tardy. It is sure and lasting, but the farmer often 
desires to produce an immediate effect, and that too 
without adding any very large quantity of the ma¬ 
nure which in his neigborhood may be expensive or 
only procured with difficulty. 
The second point relates to sulphuric acid. This 
is a cheap acid, costing by the carboy, from 2\ to 3 
cents per lb., at least in the vicinity of large towns 
and cities. It is very sour, and extremely corro¬ 
sive,destroying animal and vegetable structures with 
great facility; it burns through flesh or clothing al¬ 
most instantly, and a very small portion swallowed 
is fatal to life. It flows thick and has all the ap¬ 
pearance of oil j placed upon wood it blackens and 
chars it, so that it looks as if it had been burned. 
When strong, this acid destroys all vegetable life, 
but when diluted, it becomes a valuable manure. If 
mixed with so much water that the liquid has no 
perceptible sour taste, and sprinkled over fields 
by means of a water cart or other convenient ma¬ 
chine, a very remarkable fertilizing effect is produ¬ 
ced on many soils, thus proving that the acid itself 
contains something useful to plants. In certain si¬ 
tuations it has been found to give very fair crops of 
turneps, without the aid of any other manure. 
We may now proceed to an account of the changes 
which take place when this acid is applied to bones, 
and of the beneficial nature of the compound pro¬ 
duced. 
Various ways have been recommended for dissolv¬ 
ing the bones, and I will mention a few of the most 
successful. The first step in all cases, is to dilute 
the acid with two or three times its bulk of water. 
If used of full strength, it chars and blackens, but 
does not dissolve the bones. When they are crushed 
into small pieces or powdered, one-tbird their weight 
of acid is sufficient to dissolve them; if whole and 
large, less than half will not do it completely. 
A very common way of managing the solution, is 
to put the bones into an old hogshead or other con¬ 
venient vessel, and then pour half or two-thirds the 
proper quantity of diluted acid upon them; they 
should be occasionally stirred, and if not dissolved 
after a day or two, the remainder of the acid may 
be added. 
Another way which I have found very effectual, 
is to break down the bones and lay them in a heap, 
on a place where the acid cannot soak away. It 
should be poured in successive portions on the top 
of the heap, at intervals of half a day, turning over 
and mixing thoroughly each time. By both of these 
methods the bones are finally dissolved, or at least 
crumbled down to a soft pasty mass, that is mostly 
soluble in water. The solution is more ready if the 
bones are powdered slightly, moistened and laid in 
a heap, to ferment a month before use. 
Several chemical changes take place while the 
bones are dissolving. When the acid is first, added, 
a bubbling up or effervescence occurs ; this is owing 
to the decomposition of whatever carbonate of lime 
may be present. The carbonic acid goes off, and 
the sulphuric acid unites with the lime, forming sul¬ 
phate of lime or common gypsum, which is as all 
know an excellent manure for most soils. 
The sulphuric acid then attacks the phosphate of 
of lime also, and unites with a portion of its lime, 
forming sulphate of lime again. The remainder of 
the lime is still united with all of the phosphoric 
acid; of course each pound of lime has much more 
of it than before, thus forming what is called a bi¬ 
phosphate or super-phosphate of lime, from its con¬ 
taining a double portion of phosphoric acid. This 
is much more soluble than the ordinary phosphate. 
The acid also acts upon the organic matter or ge¬ 
latine of the bones, bringing it into a state more 
readily soluble, and better fitted to supply the wants 
of plants. Thus we have sulphate of lime, super¬ 
phosphate of lime, and soluble organic substances; 
all being manures of great value, and in states ea¬ 
sily appropriated by the plants. 
The bones when dissolved, are sometimes applied 
simply mixwd with water. The water is added un¬ 
til no taste of sourness can be perceived, and the li¬ 
quid is then distributed by a water cart. It produ¬ 
ces in many cases most remarkable effects. In fact, 
when applied in this way, they are more efficacious 
than in any other, because they are more finely divi¬ 
ded and more evenly distributed. It is however, an 
inconvenient and expensive method, and hence it is 
more usual to mix the dissolved bones with charred 
peat, or ashes, or vegetable mould, or sawdust, in 
sufficient quantity to dry up the acid, and make a 
compound which can be sown by hand or by a drill 
machine. 
From the composition already given of this ma¬ 
nure, it is obvious that it must be one of much value, 
and the results of its application in practice, fully 
confirm our theoretical conclusions. 
It is found that for many crops, from two to four 
bushels of dissolved bones produce an effect equal to 
If? to 20 bushels of bone dust, which latter has al¬ 
ready been described as one of the most powerful 
manures used. It is a cheap application also; two 
bushels of bones would certainly not be worth more 
than 50 cts., and would weigh from 100 to 120 lbs. 
50 lbs. of acid to dissolve them would cost $1.50, 
making a total expense of $2. This, with half the 
usual quantity of ordinary manure, is found quite 
enough for an acre, and thus appears to be far 
cheaper than any thing else that could be used with 
like effect. 
Bones enough to fertilize several acres in this way, 
could be collected in the course of a year on every 
farm, and their use cannot be too strongly recom¬ 
mended. The trouble of preparation is little, save 
in imagination, and few who once make trial of them 
in the way here prescribed, will meet with disap¬ 
pointment. The mixture of dissolved bones and 
peat or ashes mentioned above, is to be applied ei¬ 
ther broadcast or sown in drills. This latter me¬ 
thod is best in many cases, because it brings the 
manure in a position more directly and easily acces¬ 
sible to the roots. It should be sown in the bottom 
of a drill, then a light furrow over, and the seed 
above so as not to come in immediate contact with 
the mixture. This is for turneps and that class of 
crops. For wheat and grain it is best sown broad¬ 
cast or by a machine. 
Machines which sow the manures of this kind, 
and the seed at the same time, are used in England 
and would be valuable here. John P. Norton. 
