1852, 
THE CULTIVATOR 
55 
Hungarian bull and cow, the property of R. L. Colt, 
Paterson, N. J.,—received premiums in the class of 
foreign stock at the show of the N. Y. State Ag. Soc., 
1851. These cattle evidently belong to a very distinct 
breed—we have seen none which appeared to be more 
so—and have qualities which would render them de¬ 
sirable in certain locations. Their introduction to this 
country is an experiment, for which Mr. Colt is entitled 
to credit. They are hardy, and show much fattening 
property. The figures herewith given do not give so 
favorable an impression in regard to the animals, as they 
arc entitled to. That of the bull is fair, but the cow 
has a rough wild expression which does not belong to 
her. 
Using Bones for Manure. 
Eds. Cultivator —Can you, or any of your corres¬ 
pondents tell us how to use bones and horns to the best 
advantage, in the absence of all mills for grinding them? 
D. J. Beardsley. Portage co., Ohio, Nov. 1851. 
Bones are used in three ways—1st. By cracking them 
with a sledge into fragments from half an inch to an inch 
in length; 2d. By grinding into powder; and 3d. By 
dissolving in sulphuric acid. The first forms a durable 
manure, but as the fragments dissolve slowly, it is the 
least powerful of the three. The latter, by completely 
dissolving the bones, renders the same amount several 
times more active and powerful than even by grinding to 
powder. 
On page 52 of the Cultivator for 1851, our correspond¬ 
ent will find a description of the mode of dissolving bones 
by sulphuric acid, bearing in mind that as great heat is 
produced by the mixing of the acid with water, it must 
be added gradually by successive portions at intervals of 
some hours. The acid, bought by the carboy (or large 
bottles) will cost from 24 to 3 cents per pound, the ex¬ 
pense of which will be well remunerated by the great 
fertilizing power of the manure. But in places quite 
remote from large cities, it may be hard to obtain; in 
such cases, one of the following new methods may be 
tried, and may by experience prove valuable:-— 
The first is steaming, as described by Prof. Norton on 
page 270 of our last volume, and which is probably the 
cheapest mode for dissolving large quantities. Prof. 
Norton has since informed us that sufficient heat cannot 
be obtained with less than a pressure of 30 lbs. on the 
square inch, or two atmospheres. 
The second mode, is by fermentation. This is de¬ 
scribed on page S3 of our last volume. It has as yet 
been but little tried, but if it can be successfully reduced 
to practice, it may possibly prove the most convenient 
and cheap mode of reducing them to powder, under or¬ 
dinary circumstances. 
Levi Bartlett, of Warner, N. H., describes in the 
Journal of Agriculture, various modes by which he has 
prepared bones for manure. He has come to the con 
elusion that the best way is to boil the bones for a short 
time, and while hot mix them with unleached ashes, the 
whole to be covered with loam or muck to retain the 
heat and absorb the ammonia which will be set free. In 
a few months, the bones would be decomposed. 
Potash for Manure. 
u Will you, or some of your correspondents inform us 
if potash will not answer the place of ashes in compost, 
if rightly applied—and if it will quit cost?” P. Pratt. 
Deep River, Conn., Nov. 14. 
Potash would undoubtedly form a valuable constituent 
in composts; but where ashes can be had, they are 
cheaper and better, because the cost of extracting the 
potash separately is avoided; and better, because ashes 
contain several other valuable ingredients besides potash, 
such for instance as lime, gypsum, and phosphates. The 
relative cost of ashes and potash may be’ k ascertained 
to some degree of accuracy by determining first the 
cost of a pound of ashes, and a pound of potash, and 
