Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-09-01
USES AND VALUE OF MUCK.
OF MUCK coMposTED WITH BONES.

than once how rank ana luxurlantly, and
with what dark green color plants grow,
that have fortunately sprung up in the
immediate vicinity of large bone, de-
posted there, perhaps years before, by
some proyident dog, or sent from the
farm house as a nuisance, that the inmates
were glad to have abated by burying the
thing out Of sight 1t is now partially de-
oayed having sort of honey comb ap
pearanee, and through it and interlacing
every part Of it, are the delicate rootlcts
of plants, having travelled some feet, per
haps, in tAat particular direction to feed
upon the phosphate of lime and the phos-
phoric acid with which the bone abounds.
Now here are circumstances over which
the farmer may pause, longer than Burns
did over the mouse he turned up in his
furrow-and here are suggestions made,
and lessons to bo learned, which, if pa
tiently attended to, will lead to many
happy results; such as rich fields of corn,
AMI fruits aud grain, fertile meadows and
pastures dotted with fat and thrifty cattle,
and consequently, liberal profits, and cash
az band, the ultimate object Of his opera
tions. Here is "thc evidence of things
not seen" the fact laid bare, that bones
t0iH make plants gros0, provided they
come in contact. Is it not, then, the part
OF wisdom, not only that all which come
from the kitchen of the farmhouse be
carefully preserved, but that every pains
bo taken to accumulate it in large quantl-
ties, and appropriate i: to the advance
mant of our cropsl Suppose this to have
been done and the muck ready for the
compost, then the bones must in some
manner be brought into Il powder or paste /;
the latter is the best form in which to use
them, and they may readily be brought
into it, by weighing the bones, and then
to every hundred pounds of bones, adding
fifty pounds of sulphuric acid, the common
oil OF viriol of the shops, and costing A.
bout three cents a pound by the carboy
If the bones have been ground, half that
quantity OF acid will be sufficient. Take
II half hogshead tub, place it in some con-
voncnt spot, and surround it, nearly to
the top, with moist litter Or the drier por-
tions OF the horse manure hoap, and then
if the tub leaks during the operation Of
reducing the leaking will be saved. First
dilute the aad with three times its bulk of
water; place the bones in the tub and
turn on one.half Of the acid and water.
In twenty.four hours afterwards, stir the
iLaSs, and if the bones are not all dissol-
we'd, pour on more of the acid and water,
and SO continue to do until the whole is
reduced to pulp or paste. Another mode
of accomplishing the same result, is by
making heap of the bones on the barn
OF other floor but it is not so safe and
economical as the first method we have
described.
When this has been effected, dry finely
pulverized muck should be intimately mix
ed with it, until the whole will be in such
a dry state as to enable person to scatter
it WITH shovel or by hand evenly over
the pile OF muck with which it is intended
to be cOmposted. There is no loss in
using the sulphuric acid, as it decomposes
the silicates (Sana) of the soil, forming
new clements which are decomposed by
the living plants and are fed on by them.
Now, then, the materials all being at hand
the pile may be constructed by a layer Of
muck, six inches in thickness, then a
sprinkling of the bonedust scattered evenly
over it, and so on, until the materials are
all used. This compost we consider next
in value to that of muck and barn-manure,
and plenty of examples might be cited &c
sustain this opinion were it necessary
Prof. j. z. Norton, Elements, p. 9S, says
Two or three bushels of these dissolved
bones, with half the usual quantity of yard
manure, are sufficient for an acre. Thi.
is, therefore, an exceedingly powerful
fertilizer One reason for its remarkable
effect is, that the bones are, by being dis
solved, brought into state Of such minut
division, that they are easily and at onc
available Ton the plant, A peculiar phos
phate Of lime is formed, called by chemist
q supeIphosphate, which is very soluble
and in addition to this, We have the sui
phuric acid, of itself an excellent applica
ton to most soils.' In gardening, AM
especially on light lands commonly use,
for that purpose, this compost is one Q
the most convenient to use, quick in it
effects upon the plants to which it is ap
piled, and yet permanent in its results
The farmer cannot exercise too much car
in this branch of his industry, for none 0