Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-03-22

Magussa 90
Soda o3l
In every 100 pounds Of bone dust, IL it is not
adulterat ted.
From the above We see that every substance
which enters into the composition of bone dust
Is also found In grain or grass. and 10 tact In
almost everything raised on farm.
There has been considerable difference of
opinion as 10 the manner in which bone dust
acts, for Its action seems so variable at some
times and on some fields 1t produces a won
dertul eject, and under other circumstances
produces very little II any effect. Some attri-
butte its action to the phosphate of lime, and
account for its non action in some cases and
not In others by supposing that where it does
not act, the soil has aireedy sufficient phos-
phate Of lime to last the crops.
On the other hand, others attribute Its s"-
tion to the organic matter (gelstiue) which 1t
contains. But this theory does not sccount for
the failures which sometimes follow the appli-
cation of bone dust, for very few soils contain
| much organic or animal matter.
A third and BY far the l,rgest part claim
| that its action 10 In most cases due to both the
organic and inorganic portions that the or
game (gelatine) portion always acts, snd il the
soil is deficient in phosphate and carbonate of
lime, that they also will act aud produce a
great effect. But If there is sufficient OF lime
portion alone acts, and the eject lie not near
so perceptlble.
Another very important point 10 the action
of..bones is Influenced BY the quantity OF water
which they contain. II has been found by ex-
pertinent that the bones of an animal 3 yesrs
old contain about 3at per cent OF water; when
40 years old but Is per cent; and II has been
found that the more water the hone dust con :
tains, the sooner 1t will dseompose after il is
| mil al rutt anti nd tlu 1 a ~
soouer and more violently bat will sooner be
exhausted. This may In q measure account for
the different effects produced by bones prepsr
ed by different modes.
The dust prepared from bones which have
been boiled will for this reasou produce a diff
ferent effect from the bone in its natural state
The boiling extracts the oil. and after being
ground the dnst absorbs a large amount Of
moisture, and as before stated, acts sooner but
does not last so long.
From this we see that the farmer 10 the
application Of burned or uuburned boues mus
be governed by the crops to which he applies
them to act. II he wants the crop stimulated
(as, for instance, turBips,) to sudden growth
aud one crop IN have all the benefi, of the ap.
plication, then hs should use dust prepared
from burned or boiled bones. But when 1t il
desired that the effect should be per uanent
then unburned bones will be the most likely ID
accomplish the end in view.
Bone dust forms an excellent tsp dressing fe
pasture land, especially on a dairy farm. Muot
more so on farm 9th latter kiud, because oil
the articles sold (milk aud cslves) contain II
large amount of phosphate Of lime with pot
ash, soda and magnssia. On another farm thi
Is not so much the case, for cattle that hav
reached their growth and are laying on ia
consume very little of phosphate 10 any form
1t has been calculated and proved by diret
chemical analysis that 40 gallons OF milk con
II tain at least one pound of phosphate of lime
:. good COW will produce $50 gallons of m |
d in year, which, ss above, would contain te
!. pounds of the phosphate, or as much as wi
.s be found in 30 pounds of good bones.
p Every COW from which a II ID raised, th
q bones OF which are derived irom the soil, vii
. contain say 20 pounds, thus showing that t
q leave the land in good condition, II yearly ad
y dition OF So pounds of bone du / for each co,
a should be made. The same is the case wit
growing stock; all the increase OF the bons
must come from the soil.
Johnson calculates that the ton of good bon
:. dust will contain OF
10 Animal matter (gelatine) Isr ~
c Phosphates of line, &c. l245 .
= Carbonates 248
h 2240 ID
: From it's ANAL bulk, Its reasonable price 90
slow aud permanent action bone dust lro
Il uuburned bones forms an excellent top drei