Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-03
sUPERpHosPHATE OF LINE.

Now that crops of all kinds are unusu
ally valuable to the producer, how to pre-.
pare bones for immediate use and consump.
tion BY growing plants is a matter OF in
terest to thousands. We know of no better
way, where one can obtain oil Of vitriol,
than that described below by Thomas Sim,
of Libertytown, Md, in the Farm Joarn-
al
'In the preparation Of the soluble phos.
phate Of lime, state in which it always
exists in nature, these facts seem clearly
established: The first is, that one third
of sulpburic acid, known as the oil of Wit.
riol, of proper specific gravity is needed,
The second fact is that this acid should be
diluted with three times its bulk of water,
otherwise it will clear and not dissolve the
bone The third is, that the finer bones
are ground or chrushed, t he more readily
and perfectly will the compound be found.
These facts being settled, the lamented
Norton, DR.. Higgins, our own State Chem
list, and some others, direct that acid, as
above diluted, should be added to the bones
by degrees, agitating the mass frequently
from ten days to two weeks, at the oxpira-
ton of which time the compound would be
ready for use. As this is tedious and
laborious process, 1 have sought to supply
its place by another and less objcctiona-
BILE one, and have succeeded in a manner
which 1 shall now give, and which, as you
will see, is so simple as to be accessible to
all.
~ procure tubs of capacity and number
to suit the amount of superphosphate I
wish to prepare, common meat tubs an
swering the purpose perfectly well. Into
these place my bones carefully moisten.
ing.them. with water as fill up the tubs,
in which condition ! permit them to remain
twenty four hours, at the expiration of
which time find them heated to high
degree, which facilitates the action of the
acid upon them. Inow dilute the acid in
seperate vessel; and after the heat
evolved by the unison of the acid and wa
ter has subsided, pour it in small guam
titles at time, upon the bones, carefully
stirring the mass so as co mpletely to mix
the acid with the bones, and continue to
do SO until all the acid is mixed with the
bones after which cover the tubs care.
fully, SO as to retain the heat A thor.
ough stirring and mixing of the mass will
be needed three or four times for twenty
four or thirty six hours, at the end Of which
time the process is completed, and better
article furnished than can be obtained by
the method of Prof Norton after full two
weeks of care and toll.
"At this stage ofthe process the super
phosphate is pulpy mass of the consist
ence of soft soap, and of course unfit to SOW
broadcast, or to be regularly applied to
the soil. To prepare it for this purpose,
/ strew it upon my barn floor saw-dust,
dry mould, or well leached wood ashes,
from two to three inches thick; upon this
Ispread the compound as evenly as I can,
then cover it with more ofthe same article
used to dry it, and proceed with fork and
rake to mix up the whole mass until it is
intimately incorporated, when it is fit at
once to be put upon the land.
"The supherphosphate of lime is held
by intelligent and judicious farmers, both
in Europe and America, to be one of the
most valuable fertilizers, and when suitably
applied is capable of producing the most
astounding results. To the American far.
mer it is easily accessible, and perfectly
available, at comparatively low cost. From
my own experience in its use, I am war
ranted in saying that it will repay its cost
more than three fold when judiciously