The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-10-21
b O n Z s


BONES.
"The value Of bone dust as manure has
been so thoroughly established in other
places, aud in fact affords such permanent
fertility to the soil, that it is matter of sur
prise that SO little Of it has been used in this
region of country. We can only account
for the neglects Of this aud other means OF
Improvement, BY the reliance which farmers
have got into the habit Of placing on Peru
yian guano. This enters into the production
OF almost every crop; and even at present
prices il continues TO be purchased with
iavidity; though il is thought By many ju-
dcious farmers that if an accurate debit and
credit account was kept with il, the profit
would not be found in the majority Of cases
to counterbalance the expense.
"rhe waste of fertilizing material in the
form Of bones. in such place as Petersburg,
t(Va..) is incaleulable. And we think a
company Of cnterprising gentlemen could
not make better Investment, on moderate
scale. than by the establishment of mill
\ for the purpose Of grinding the raw bones.
That they could be collected in large guam
titles cannot well admit Of doubt. When
ever it is ascertained that there is certain
market for them, they will be carefully pre-
served BY most housekeepers or their SER
wants, just as ashes have long been aud
they might both be collected at stated times
in the same manner. Depots for their re-
iception might also be established in the
neighboring towns, such as Lyuchburg,
Parmyille. Weldon, and even in the city Of
Richmond. A little systematic effort would
soon bring all such arrangements to- bear.
"ln view OF some such enterprise, and IN
order to promote il To tle best Of our ability,
we submit some remarks on the peculiar
value Of bones as fertilizer. Their COM
position is, when dry. Of earthly matter
about sixty-six pounds in one hundred and
of organic matter thirty-four pounds, which
i tie amount carried on by burning. The
earthly matter consists oi phosphate 81 lime.
, or lime in combination with phosphoric
acid--substances both Of them, forming
: valuable applications 10 every soil. The
organic part is called gfiGfiae OF glue. which
is extremely rich in nitrogen, and therefore
: an excellent manure.
"Bones are thus seen 10 unite some OF the
most desirable organic and inorganic ma
nures. For speedy action on the growing
crop, thcy should be reduced To fine state,
, which can only be done BY very powerful
machinery. Eigh. or ten bushels per acre
are thought 10 be a liberal application; but
/, the effect will be more satisfactory when
combined with half the usual quantity Of
BARNARD or stable manure. What the effect
would be on tobacco. We are unable 10 state
from actual experiment; but We have used
9 il on cabbages and turnips with the best re-
suits. For plants Of this class, indeed, 4
may be regarded as a specific manure and
/, Its action on tobacco would no doubt be
equally conspicuous.
+" The most popular form in which bones
b are now used as manure, II III d state 81 SO
/ luton with sulphuric acid. This prepara.
tion is known under the name Of superphos.
phaie ~ fine, and ii made according "a
chemical principles, there can be no doubt
Of its value. Bnt since il las became an
extensive article Of manufacture aud com.
merce, il cannot always be relied on a,
genuine. Every farmer Of ordinary intelli.
genee, however, can make il for his owr
purposes. Toeyery hundred weight Of bones
! about fiity or sixty weight of acid are taken
or il the powdered bone is used, but llttl,
!, more than halt the quantity Of acid will b,
: necessary. The acid should be mixed viii
two or three times iis bulk Of water, ant
: poured on the bOnes--une- al time
: and permitted 20 remain twenty.iouf hours
the mas being occasionally stirred. Anothci
third may be poured on the second day. ans
the remainder the third day. A tub il
convenient vessel in which 10 prepare III,
mixture. Two bushels of homes, treated II
: this manner, will be sufficient Gor an acre .
ground the expense Of which will he sumo
thing like tie following: bones 81 fit,
pounds acid. which ~ the cost per cafboy
would not exceed three cents per pound
say ~ so. At an expense, therefore, .
50 so, d sufficient quantity Of supcrphos
phate Of lime may be prepared for one acr
of land.
alt may be thought tllat the acid vil
prove destructive 10 the oil and gelatin
contained in the bones, but i Il not at Al
injurious 20 them. The whole earthly Or IN
organic portion may be dissolved out by III
acid, while the cartilage or gclatine vii
Misunderstanding the SIZE and form Of u
bone. SnIphuric acid may be also mixc'
with guanO with manifest advantage no
only with the phosphate guanos. but wit
The Peruvian. twill act ON the phosphate
and prepare them ior the immediate use 3
plants, without diminishing the energy .
The organic constituents"
The above, originating with The southern
Farmer, but taken by Us from the Richmon,
n Wing, is all true, aud is Of 50 much real
i practical importance that We are willing {
DO our part 10 keep il going, and we hop
other editors, who can hnd or write pothig