Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-05-26
AGRICULTURAL,
BONES FOR GRAPE VINES.

EDS. GENEsEE FARMER 1t is quite
customary to bury whole bones in grape
borders, and the effect, I believe, is goner-
ally beneficial. have seen the fibrous
roots cling to the bones, and penetrate into
the pores as though there was something
in the bones they were very fond of. Now,
! suppose that it is the phosphate of lime
of the bones that constitutes their chief
value. Would it not seem probable, there
fore, that superphosphate of lime (which
contains soluble phos phate Of lime) would
be very powerful manure for grape vines !
should be glad of your opinion on this
subject.-PAHadelph,a, Pa. X. H.
The effect which our esteemed CORES
pondent describes, we have witnessed our
selves. The chief value Of burnt bones is
undoubtedly owing to the phosphate of lime
which they contain; but is fresh bones the
gelatine is of at least equal value to the
phosphates. Gelatine is very similar in
composition to the flesh Of animals and it
is well known that dead animals buried
Under grape vines produce, oftentnnes, a
very beneficial effect. One of the most
productive vineyards in this State had
large number of the carcases of animals
(kiiled in the vicinity by an accident on the
! 'iiroad) buried beneath the vines before
tAcy were planted. Now, this animal mat
tcr, dccaying in the soil, would furnish
a0tnaonsa to the plants rather than phos.
lhate of lime. And it is more than pro-
bable that the effect Of whole bones placed
'.aneath grape vines is to be ascribed to the
ammonia formed by the decay of the gela-
tine of the bones rather than to their
phosphatcs.
The bones of bear and of stag, which
Lad been long buried in the soil, were
analysed by MARcHAuD, and they were
found to have lost very little phosphate of
lime, while the animal matter, or gclatine,
had greatly diminished, especially in one
of the bones, which had been buried more
shallow than the rest.
1t follows from this, that the phosphate
ii these whole bones, which remain unde-
composed and insoluble in the soil, can have
very effect on the plants. The fact, there
iore, that whole bones buried beneath
-rape vines increase their growth and
prodnctiveness, is no proof that the soluble
phosphate OF lime in superphosphate would
prove beneficial. We do not say that it
viii not, in fact we think it is quite likely
that superphosphate may be an excellent
manure for grapes but the facts mentioned
oy our correspondent do not prove it.
8 But doesn't the fact" we hear our COR
respondent ask, "that the effect of bones
lasts for great many years, prove that it
's due to the phosphate of lime, and not to
lie gelatine +! The latter decomposes more
readily than the former, and would soon
nc consumed, while. the phosphate would
last for a long period. If the bones are
beneficial sitter all the gelatine is decom-
posed and absorbed by the plants, it must
be owing to the phosphate of lime still left
il the bones" This would be true, if the
gclotine was all consumed, but in the case
Of whole bones it would take many years
- produce such q result. While the bones
'.Aaiyzed by MARcHAUD, which had laid
a the ground for an unknown period, had
'ost large proportion of their gelatine,
incy still contained considerable quaint.
iy--that of the bear, which was buried
.ocp, l6 per cent. that buried shallow, 4
pr cent, and that of the stag per cent.
it is stated that the soil of district in
Sweden, " which, from time immemoral
had grown excellent wheat, without ma.
nIre," was analysed by BERzELIUs, and
f'una to contain minute fragments of bone
capable, upon boiling with water, Of
Yielding weak solution of gelatine. II
Vas concluded, therefore, that the spot
had been an ancient battle field, and that
It, prolonged fertility was due to the bones
. the old soldiers and their warehouses
hured in it, and still, to some extent, un-
aecomposed.-Eas. Gen Far.