Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-08-23
Frn ,h. New Ensland rsr~cr
Dissolving Bones.

We are told from oil quarters that bones
which are by some means converted into a
powder or paste are excellent, for nearly al
the plants we cultivate. The chcmi., tells
u. 80. and give. u. the reason ior his opin.
ion; while the Observing farmer. who has
u-ed them on his growing crops. leaving
portion Of them. side by side. without the
hone. assures u. that the superior growth
and weigh, OF seed where bone du', is ap-
piled. is too obvious to leave any room Tor
doubt. II Is said, also, that tie animals
iei upon herbaec where bone in some form
is applied. are more healthy, grow faster.
ani yield larger products in milk. butter
and cheese. than on those farms that have
long been cropped withOu, the usc Of bone.
n such 10 the case, il - we'll worth the
attention o! the farmer 10 save and secure
all the bones be can. and convert them into
q fertilizer in one form or another. II he
bu, commencc. saving. he will bc surprised
a, the anoun, collected in the course OF tho
year, especially II hs have au old horse TO
compos, during the tins. In order TO make
the saving certain. there mus, be q specific
vessel in which to deposi, them. such ~ a
barrel or box Of sui'icien, size, which should
always stand in somc convenient place.
When thu. collected. the question Arises,
how they may be, be reduced TO the form
OF powder or paste, 90 tha, they may bo
evenly applied to the soil. In former years
NO have given the modes prae,iccd to dis.
solve bones by the use Of sulphuric acid.
commonly called oil OF 'i,riol. but as the
acid !. high, and there 10 some danger Of
accident in its u.e. some other mode is pref.
drable. We have also given mode Of pro.
ducius the desired rcsul, by bedding the
bone. in horse msnure-bu, that process is
a tedious one. and few, We fear. will avail
themselves Of its use.
In recen, number OF the Country Gen.
,leman. u writer over the signature Of :" A.
Il. A." introduces n new mode which is at
once simple and cheap, and which. II Ell.
fec,ual. !. q valuable one. IL consist. in
putting the bones through prOcss Of
fermentation" We give /, below as be
state. 1t, intending to employ /, on the
bones we have now collected. and will then
state to the reader the rc-uls-whether "a.
yorable or not. lie says: -
"To Q ton Of crushed or ground bones,
add tso 10 four cwt. Of common sllt. and
enough Of bot water or urine or liquid ma
nure Of any kind to We, or dampen thor.
oughly the whole mas mix thoroughly,
and then cover up the whole heap with
dried muck, charcoal dust. sawduss, Gods,
or common soil. The heap will coon be.
come warm aud fermen,, and ai,er several
weeks will be ai for application in the samc
way. and In abou, the same doses. as orti.
nary .uperphospha,e- or bones dissolved by
the agency oi sulphuric acid. Oi bones
thus prepared the North British Agricultu.
ri.t says: BOles iermeuted by adding
liquid manure or hot water with portion
Of salt, arc manurially Of about equal val.
ue. weight tor weight, with thO.e treated
by sulphuric acid As sulphuric acid IS.
a, presen, higher in prlco than formerly,
and as there is always liability to accidents
and injuries to both the clothing and the
body Of persons handling this strong acid,
the process OF dissolvinS by fermentation
is at once more cafe and more economical
than dissolvins by acid"