360 
Fresh bones of the cow have been analyzed, and were found to consist of 
Organic animal matter, (gelatine). 33% 
Phosphate of lime. 35% 
Phosphate of magnesia... 3 
Carbonate of lime. 3% 
Soda and common salt. 3% 
Chloride of Calcium. 1 
100— Johnston, 
“ By the action of sulphuric acid the gelatine of bones is decomposed 
and converted into new compounds capable of affording nitrogen to plants. 
The carbonate of lime is decomposed, sulphuric taking the place of car¬ 
bonic acid, thus forming sulphate of lime, (plaster). A part of the lime 
contained in the insoluble phosphates is also converted into sulphate of 
lime, while the remainder of the lime and the whole of the magnesia 
forms soluble phosphates with the whole of the phosphoric acid. The 
salts of soda are also converted into sulphates, or form a mixture of sul¬ 
phates and phosphates of soda. 
All these compounds are soluble in water, the phosphates of which 
the plant requires at certain seasons of its growth a ready supply, are 
especially so; and thus all the inorganic matters which the bones contain 
are brought into a condition in which they can readily, and without 
waste, be made available for the nourishment of the plant.”— Johnston. 
Bones seem to be a peculiarly grateful food to fruit trees. Barry, in 
the Horticulturist of December last, remarks that “in taking up trees 
from soil where bones have been used as manure, we find every particle 
within reach of the roots completely enveloped in masses of fibre. Clement 
Hoare, in his excellent Treatise on the Culture of the Grape Vine, states 
that a large bone, which was dug out of a vine border, was covered with 
a net-work of fibres inside and out, and the roots instead of passing 
into the soil beyond when they reached the end of the bone, had turned 
over the edge and passed inside. Superphosphate of lime is said by 
Bindley to facilitate the emission of roots by newly-transplan ted trees. 
Ashes are also a most valuable manure, and every man’s experience 
must convince him that a great loss is annually incurred by farmers, 
owing to the want of a little thought and care in the management of this 
one material. Some have ventured to predict that the time will arrive 
