The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-30
Animal Manures.

will endeavor to give this article three
different parts; viz:-First, the flesh; sec
ond the blood; third, the bones, &C.
First. The flesh of all animals, during
their decomposition, undergo certain
changes which fit it to become the food of
plants, it evolves ammonia, which gas
escapes unless it is retained by coat of
plaster having been put on the decompos-
ing mass and this is one of the main ma
nurial properties of it, for on its applica-
tlou to the wheat crop, the leaves being
powerful inhalents drink in this gas and
are thereby benefited, nearly if not quite
as much as it is by the roots extricating the
phosphoric acid and salts from the mass
itself.
Blubber and other oily substances have
been successfully applied to land, but this
is hardly fit unless first mixed with peat,
sand or common soil, so as to expose 4
large surface to the air, the oxygen of
which produces soluble matter from it
The carbon and hydrogen Astounding in
oily substances, fully account for their
effect and their durability is easily OK
planned from the gradual manner in which
they change by the action of air and water
Second. Blood is 4 manure that is very
scarce in this part of the country, but is
one Of the best of animal manures. 1t Las
been found to contain febrine ard albumen:
the red particles in it which have been sup
posed by many foreign chemists to be col
ored by iron in a particular state of combi-
nation with oxygen and acid matter l con-
slider as formed of peculiar animal mat
ter containing very little iron. The scum
taken from the boilers of the sugar makers,
where it is used to separate the impurities
of common brown sugar by the coagulation
OF its aibuminous matter by the heat of the
boiler, IS matter much used by the manu-
facturers OF super phosphates; and when
buried in the soil, it lasts for considera-
BILE time, and constantly supplies vast
amount of nutritive matter to the plants in
its neighborhood.
Third. Bones, &c.-Who among your
many readers have not heard of Bone Dust,
Rae Bone Super Phosphate, SEP Now the
question arrives; what is it? 1t is merely
the bone, acted upon by certain acids (sul-
phuric acid mostly and with the addition
of certain earthly salts, oyster shells, &C.,
to give it bulk; supplied the farmers at
extravagant prices; bearing high sound
ing name to make it take better? If we
farmers would buy our bone from the soap
boilers, and break them ourselves, it would
be an item of saving, both by getting the
same bulk at a reduced price, and the great
er manurial properties the pure bones con-
tain. The more divided they are, the more
powerful are their effects. The expense of
buying mill, and grinding would be amply
repaid by the increase of their fertilizing
powers; and in this state of powder they
might be used in drill husbandry, and de-
livered with the seed, in same manner as
other patent manures. Bone dust and
bone shavings, the refuse of turning man
utacturics, may be advantageously employ
ed III the same way. Some on reading this
will say-what is there in so hard sub
stance as bone to fertilize cropo In
answer, | say;-Bone has for is basis many
earthly salts, principally phosphate of lime,
with comecarbonate of lime and phosphate
of magnesium; three great fertilizers in
themselves; together with the fat, gea-
tine, and cartilage, which seems of the
same nature as coagulated albumen,
make bone one Of our standard manures.
According to analysis, bones are found to
contain, decomposable animal matter 81:
phosphate of lime 37.7, carbonate of lime
10, phospha magnesium 1.3;-total1OO.
The earthly matter in them prevents the
too rapid decomposition of the animal mat
ter, hence the durable effects of bone, on
land where it has been applied.
Hoping these few remarks may be of
utility, l await another opportunity, also
to hear others views. AGRICoLA.
1o,em Point, Oct. 18TH; 1869,