Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-14


that only small part Of the above 90
acres was appropriated to the stock.
Mr.. Stietcb, an excellent farmer, cs-
Inmates from his own experience, that a
first application of one ton Of bone ma
nwe to an acre of pasture land, will, in
many cases, make it of three times its
value for productveness. An extensive
observer says he never heard OF a single
failure of bone dust in that part OF the
country. On sterile clays, i'll covered
even with the least nutritious of vegeta-
ton, bone manure soon effects dcci-
dod change. The hypnum tribes, or
MOSES, and the cauer panicea, or pink
grass, soon disappear, and fine rich
sward OF the noblest grasses TO be seen
on the best grass lands takes their place.
A piece of land, which, previous TO be-
ing bone-dusted, scarcely grew any 9TH
CT plant than the cavex, is now beau
tful pasture of rDolium pratcnse, or per
ennlal redclover; COW grass, or trJol'um
medium, perennial; trefoil or refolium
procambdS.
On many farms, bones do not so much
increase the quantity as the quality Of
thc. food grown and greater quantity
of cheese is frequently produced from
Il given quantity of land, rather than an
increased weight of grass
Another occupant says, his stock was
scarcely ever seen feeding on any other
than the boned land, and it was still so
full of feed, that it might be mown to
advantage, producing principally COW
grass or mari clover, white clover, and
perennial ttefoil; at the same time the
part of the field where the stock would
not feed was both bare and thin. In
stances occur where bone has been ap-
piled on wet land, which had remained
undecomposed, and without producing
any perceptible effect for many years,
when the land had been drained for
some months, the coarse herbage began
10 disappear, and it was soon covered
with the finest description Of permanent,
valuable grasses. The value of bones
for most tillage crops, turnips, wheat,
&c, is too well known to be here re-
peated. The above examples will suf-
flee to show the immense advantage clay
pastures or.grass lands derive from bones.
Much, land it appears Tor me very stu.
pid controversy, has existed, even among
scientific men, as TO the. comparative
value of boiled and raw bones. An an
alysls of each shows conclusively that
the raw are much the more valuable
The analysis of Fourcroy and Vauquelin
gives to OK bones, of
Decomposed animal matter, 5l.0
Phosphate of lime, 3I7
Carbonate of lime, 100
Phosphate of magnesia, 1.3
- 100
The analysis of NJ. Guilott gives, for
Calf bones, $40 phos lime, o carb lime
Horse do 665 I" l.25 /" &,
Sheep do. 700 IS :"
Yet, Notwithstanding the great addition
al proportion of phosphate oflime, which
has been maintained to be the sole fer
tilizing principle, by many distinguished
scientific men, the experience Of practi-
cal intelligent farmers assigns much the
most value to the OK bones, which con-
tain the lesser quantity of the phosphate.
1t follows concIusively, that the decOnl-
possible animal matter extracted by di-
gestion or calcination, gives to them the
increased value over other bones. The
cxlractive matter, oil ard gelantiIe, prin-
cipally, is of much value in the arts, and
is generally worth much more for this
purpose than the uses of agriculture !;
and where this is well understood, boiled
bones sell for about one-third less than
the raw; the former selling now for
G3 los. to G3 S., while the latter are
worth G5. The increased value of the
raw is further shown by the high price
of bone saw-dust, furnished by the bone
manufacturers, which, in consequence of
its extreme division, gives out all its fer
tlizing matter Immediately to the soil.
This sells generally at G8.
The quantity usually put on an acre
is Is to 25 cwt.; though 3 cwt. has pro-
duced in some instances surprising ef-
fects.
Now, we ought to look with certainty
for profitable application of the above
unquestionable facts, by American far
mers. We have in this country some
where, the accumulation Of bones pro-
duced here for nearly two centuries, and
large addition may be looked for an
nually hereafter, all of which may be
had for the cost of collecting and sure
ly there are WORKOUT lands enough in
the older States, which require, and
would make grateful return for theil
application, r. l.. ALLEN.
"A WIFE WORTH HAVING AND Cow
WORTH KEEPING. Mrs. Howard, wife
/ of Toeonb II ~ C.,.,o:. o.: