OF SEVERAL JAPANESE FERTILIZERS. 9 
Sliime kasu. 
Hoshika. 
Sardines. Herrings. 
Sardines. Herrings. 
Nitrogen. 
.9.7 8 3 
7.5 6.6 
Phosphoric acid.. 
,. 4.0 5.0 
3.7 2.3 
Oil . 
. 8.3 1 1,4 
10.3 17.7 
Here the superiority of the shime kasu over the hoshi- 
ka is clearly illustrated and, at the same time, it also be¬ 
comes evident, that in each of the two kinds of fish manure 
preference must he given to that made from sardines, not 
only on account of their higher content in nitrogen, but 
also because of their less oily condition. It is true, the 
analysis of oily fish dried in the air cannot yield exact 
figures as to the oil, because a part of this ingredient is 
materially altered by oxydation, but this inaccuracy con¬ 
cerns more the hoshika than the shime kasu, since the lat¬ 
ter manure is already freed from some oil before it is sub¬ 
jected to drying. Hence hoshika will be in a still more 
oily condition and consequently act still more slowly than 
is indicated by the percentage of oil as given in our results. 
A further drawback to the hoshika is the large quantity of 
sand which adheres ro it, in consequence of its being prepar¬ 
ed on the shore, which drawback might, of course, be easily 
avoided. 
As the Japanese fish manure consists of whole fishes 
or large fragments and as it is usually rich in oil, it requires 
a careful preparatory treatment before application, other¬ 
wise its distribution over the field would be difficult, and 
the effect very slow. It must be wel 1 crushed and then 
subjected to a thorough fermentation in the compost bed. 
When industrial enterprise shall have grown out of its pre¬ 
sent state of childhood, attention will certainly be paid to 
the rational extraction of the valuable oil from the fishes 
and to the manufacture of a fine handy powder from the 
remainder. 
