The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-18
K,lssolying Bones for Manure.

KpisSOiying Bones for Manure.
In all countries that have been sub
;ected to cultivation for any considerable
period of time, it roay be considered as
an axiom, "that without manure no good
farming is profitable" This prOverbI
means that with manure we can do any
thing, cultivate anything, which has been
clearly proved by experiment. There are
few farms even in the newest parts OF the
country which wculd not be benefited BY
economising and applying oil the manure
that is made thereon, or that can be con-
veniently and cheaply procured. But
upon old land that has been subjected to
continued cropping, manure of some kind
is absolutely indispensable. Boncs,w when
minutelY reduced, have been found ad-
mirably adapted for general manurlal
purposes being equally we'll suited to the
.urnips and the cereals. When treated,
however, with SUI phuric acid, they become
more readily taken into the circulation of
plants, and their immediate action rem
aered more certain aud cfectual. The
following method Of dissolving bones will
be found both simple and effective.
First, turn over and water the bone
dust thoroughly with as much water or
Liquid manure as it will absorb then
shovel it all into conical heap, and cover
ep carefully and closely with sods, or any
material that will not be too porous IL a
few days the temperature of the heap
will be so high that the naked hand can
not be inserted in it. The object of the
close covering is to prevent as much as
possible the escape of the gases thrown
eff during its fermentation. When
:he heap has cooled down again, turn
ever and water and cover up as before
and when the heat is at the greatest mix
with the acid Turn of, say two bushels
at time from the side OF the heap, spread
them out on the floor and water them we'll
all over; then apply the acid at the rate
Of one third the weight of the bones turn
them oil over carefully with & shovel, SO
as to bring the acid in contact with ali
The pieces Of bone. 1t may be necessary
to mention, in regard to watering the
ne-dust, that the affinity Of sulphuric
acid for water is very great, so much so,
that if exposed to the air it Will quickly
absorb water from the atmosphere, and,
consequently, when the bones are partial
y saturated, the acid, from its great afin-
ity for it, rushes, as it were, into the pores
Of the bones in search of water, and thus
the bones become rapidly and perfectly
mixed with and acted on by the acid.
When the bones and acid have been thor
oughly mixed, shovel them into a corner
and proceed in the same manner with the
rest Of the heap. From the boiling action
produced by mixing the wet bones with
the acid, they are apt to spread all over
the floor, and can not be very easily kept
together; but after the mixture has been
left for an evening to cool, there is no
difficulty in laying it up compaotly the
next day practice that ought always to
be adopted and in which condition it
ought TO remain until required for use
A considerable quantity Of acid is often
lost by this method, unless the floor on
which it is done is laid with stones or
some other hard substance, as from the
high specific gravity of the acid, and its
affinity for moisture, it sinks into an
,arlhen floor. Dried or charred bog earth
put at the bottom would tend to absorb
it, and also any gaseous matter emitted
during decomposition. Bones thus pre-
pared can be drilled with turnip or other
seeds, and their action is in general i'm,
mediate and powerful. This has been
the result of experience, whether they
lave been tried on this or the other side
efthe Atlantic Canadian Agricm.