The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-08-16
Agrifnltnral.
Rone Manure.


Bone Manure.
Although it is well known that bones
are highly vaiuableas manure, yet the
farmers of Ohio do not seem to appreciate
them, judging from the immense quanii-
ty that is annually wasted. In Europe,
it pays TO collect all the bones, and they
are never allowed 10 lie around the premi
ses in town or country. Here tons are
wasted around slaughter houses, and a
stranger would form high estimate Of
our carnivorous propensities as a nation,
by observing the number Of bones 100
often strewed around our door-yarJs. But
not only do we lose valuable manure in
this careless manner, and thus aid in ex.
haustiog our soils--ior every ounce of
bone in our domestic animals comes di.
rectly or indirectly from the same common
origin--the vegetation of the fields, pas
lures and woods, aud this vegetation
takes from the soil the necessary elements
of nntrition. Ii a soil is exhausted Of the
substances of which bone is composed, The
plants grown on j. will be deficient in nu
tritiye qualiliyes, and the animal frame
cannot thrive on such food.
There is always large amount ofbone
earth taken from our fields that is not Ie
turned, and cannot well be, in tie nature
of things. We refer TO that Of the human
skeleton. Many of the battle fields Of Eu-
rope bave been cleared oflhe remains Of the
men and horses who fell upon them, aud
the bones Of the brave who fought for their
country's honor have beer taken bach to
enrich her fields. We have armies Of
cattle, that every year leave the State, but
their bones never return 10 us renew the
exhausted land on which they were raised
The bones of the OK, according to Berze-
lius, are composed Of cartilage and Ves-
sells, soluble in water, 49, 80 parts: neu.
tral phosphate OF lime, 55,f6; carbonate
OF lime, 3.85: luorde of calcium, $50;
phopha.e of nagnesia 2,05; soda with a
little common salt, 245--l00 parts Dit
ferent parts Of the skeleton vary 10 the
component elements Of bone, aud there
is also considerable difference in tho same
bones in different animals. According
to Barros; the lion has only 1908 parts Of
carbonate Of lime to 100 parts Of the phos.
phate Of The same earth, while the sheep
has e., l2 parts to 100, and the hen II,
10.
OF all the natural grasses, Timothy CON
talns the largest proportion Of lime, be-
ing 1894 to 100 parts Of the ash and II
is only exceeded by the Hard Fescue
grass in phosphoric acid--the former con-
tanning 80 parts, the latter 1907; but
then the amount of ash in 100 parts Of
dried grass is less in Timothy than in
several other grasses. If these elements,
along with The potash, which more than
equals in weight both the others, are taken
from the soil, and no return made, the
land will soon be unable TO support the
growth Of Timothy. and will run to some
other grass or weed, that needs a smaI Her
amount of these matters. The Timothy
will be literally straved out. To retain
soils in heart care must b. taken to re-
turn 10 them the elements of which they
ale exhausted by cropping: unless this is
the case, the land will be worn ut.
Ground or 10 dust, is the best form in
which to apply bones. lfthe gelatine. has
been extracted, this makes them less valu.
able, as loo lbs OF this will produce, dur
ing decomposition, " Of ammonia. In the
West, there is small demand for this ma
nure, and large proportion Of that saved
is shipped East. a good way to prepare
bones, and Que which has an immediate
effect. is to dissolve them in snlphuric
acid. In this state they are called su
porphosphates, but the Superphosphares
OF commerce are often greatly adul!erated.
When farmer buys ulphurio acid he
should obtain the strongest, asa smaller
proportion will dissolve tho bones, and
Is therefore more ecoGomi al; and II be
has not to buy the latter. il will he much
better than 10 purchase manufactured su,
perphosphateS. Previous to teing mixed
with the aoid, the bones should be we'll
broken, then placed in a tight cask or bar.
rel. and portion Of water poured over
them; then add the acid, iu the proper
ton Of halt 10 fourth of the weigh, Of
thu bones. lfiI is desirable to apply in
the shape Of liquid manure, add largo
proportion Of water, For all crops. this
rs an excellent manure, aud nothing will
increase the fertility Of field more rap.
IDLY, Whatever may be the crop, applied
IN sufficient quantity Ohio Faymcr.