Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-01-18
Super-Phosphate of Lime-How it differs from
Bones dissolved in aoid-the value of Bones
on the I,and-How to test GIlano

Super-Phosphate of Lime-f1oW 1t differs nom
Bones dissolved in aoid-the value of Bones
on the Land--How to test Guano.
To the Editor of the New York Daily Times:
On perusng the columns of your valuable dali
ly Publication on the 2lst instant my attention
was drawn TO what was termed recipe for max
ing super phosphate of lime.
The difference between super phosphate of
lime and dissolved bones by sulphurc acid is
wide, indeed, the former being prepared by calci
nation, and when applied to the soil is easily so
luble and becomes at once the most powerful
promoter of yegetation capable of entering the
mnutest vessels of the young and tender grow
ing plant. All plants imbbe their nourshment
in fluid state and cannot take up one pau icle
of suspended matter. The pores at the extremi-
ty of the roots (f they exist at ally are too minute
to admit anything but what is absolutely liquid.
1t is clear then that every form OF manure must
become soluble, or it must be useless to the grow
ing plant, else it must lay a considerable time in
the earth before its virtues can be extricated to
afford food for the plant, and thus dsappoint the
expectations of the farmer. With respect to
dissolved bones, though there is no loss attend
ing their application, on the contrary, 1t Is the
most economical method of applying bones, still,
they require to be prepared some time before
use, else the desired effect cannot be early real
lied. A better plan than the one you published
is to boil the bones and take all the fatty matter
from them. They are then more easily decom-
posed. The fat contained in those which have
not been boiled, will act protection, and thus
prevent the ncd from acting ON them. But, first
boiling them, very little trouble will be required
to obtain perfectly dry compound capable of
being used by the drill or hand, attended with no
loss.
The great difficulty to farmers is in preparing
compost of dissolved bones. 1t is more magma
ry than real however. Let the experimenter
take five hundred pounds of boiled, crushed bones,
then with about cwt. of sulphuric acid saturate
them throughout, throwing the mass up in
heap, and let them lay to ferment and decompose.
II can be put through fine riddle, if only the
thoroughly decomposed is wanted. What will
not pass through can be placed ON side to be
again ridded through at leisure. To add guano
to it, let a tank be sunk, into which all the liquid
from the stables can runs let it be covered III from
rain into the tank let some powdered charcoal
be thrown, and when perfectly saturated, take
it out and throw it under cover to dry. The cx-
cess of moisture Of any will soon eveporate,
leaving n fertilizer equally as rich as the best
Peruvian guano. This added to the dissolved
bones, will maintain the fertility of the SOIL with
out much extra outlay, and the farmer will soon
find himself amply repaid for his trouble by the
increased growth of his crop.
Real Peruvian guano contains all the elements
necessary for vegetation. But how often does
the farmer purchase it i'll its pure state!
From the following simple plan, which read
in work from the pen of John Donaldson an
English writer, am able to detect for myself a
pure from an impure sample of Guano. Weigh
200 grains of Guano, place it in an iron ladle'
submit it to q strong red heat occasionally stir
ring it, for ten minutes. When cold the ash
es should not exceed ~ grains. If it does, you
may rest assured it cannot be genuine Peruvian
Guano.
doubt not. that ere long, more attention will
he mid To the LIQUID waste about farm, and that
bones will be nearly the only extra outlay requir-
ed aboutit.
AN OBSERVER OF PASSING EVENTS.
NEW York. w ednesday, Dee. %, 1853.