The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-04-22
AGRICULTURE.
HOW SUPERPHOSPHATE is
MADE.

Hon. Simon Brown, in his lecture
before the Agricultural Convention at
Manchester, on "Artifcial Fertilizers" "
said superphosphate of lime was made
in the following manner:
Bones are collected from every posi-
bic sourcc-boys and girls gather them
in the Streets Cf cities; butchers and
provision dealers save them; men ira
verse the country with horses and wag-
ons picking up from houses every pound
they can get, while vessels bring them
in large quantities from wherever tl.ey
can be found. These bones are in a
raw condition, not having been used
by soap boilers, or in any other way to
lessen their value. When collected
and thrown into heaps under cover,
each bone is examined, andall such
as are suitable to be used in the
arts are laid aside for turner's, cut.
tiers, &c to be used for knobs, han
dies of knives. canes and umbrellas, and
the smaller pieces to be made into but.
tons. Such as are not fit to be used in
the arts are thrown into iron retorts,
each holding two barrels. The covers
of these retorts are fitted so exactly that
they are nearly quite air tight. When
thus made ready they are let down into
furnace where the whole mass soon
acquires a white heat; but no air being
admitted, no fame takes in the bones.
In this intense heat all the animal mat
ters, the gelatiue, oils, ammonia, &c,
are driven off, and in the form of steam
passes through pipe to reservoir
prepared for it in a remote part Of the
building. The pipe through which they
pass is immersed in cold water, so that
the oil and gclatine leave it in thick
ened state and most highly charged
with the pungent ammonia. Careful
experiment having taught the work
men how long to allow the retorts to
remain in the furnace, when that time
has expired, they are taken out, set
upon an iron wheelbarrow and trundlcd
away to be cooled off.
The bones are now reduced to what
is called boneblack, or animal charcoal.
This is extensively used in refining su-
gar. They are of a shining black color,
brittle, and can be easily and readily
ground, not into -four, but into quite
small PARTICLES.
Two barrels of this ground bone are
then spread on the bottom of a wooden
vat. -Four gallons of the liquids that
ran out of the rctCrt are then thrown
upon it, and the whole thoroughly stir
red. When the mass is sufficiently
mixed, from fifty to sixty pounds of
sulphuric acid are added and mingled
4 powerful ebullition, or boiling, takes
place, which continues several minutes,
during Which time the workmeu keep
the whole mass in molten. When it
subsidies, the article has become what is
called superphCsphate Of lime. 1t is
then dried, packed and ready for mar,
ket. BY this process nothing that the
bone originally contained is lost, al
though it has undergone important
chemical changes. Such is the man.
ner in which superphosphate is obtain.
ed. Let US apply it to the crops. 1t
is not equally adapted to all plants
On all the Brascia family, including the
cabbage, Swedish turnip, common fiat
turnip, caulifower, broccoli, &c its in,
fucnce is usually striking and profitable,
The leaves of the plants grow larger
aud thicker and assume a darker green
than have seen them under the stim.
ulus of any other fertilizer. 1t is also
useful to bcets, mangolds, peas and
beans, and all other of the field and