Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-02
How Supelphosphats is Made.

e~>S~S~Ss
Hon. Simon Brown, in bis lecture before
the Agricultural Convention al Manchester
on, Artificial Ferlilizerr," said su perphop.
phate of lime was made in the following
manner:
Bones are collected from every possible
source-boys aud girls gat-r then, iu the
street of cities; butchers and provision deal
ira save them men. traverse the coun, ~
with horses and wagons picking up from
house to house every pound they can get.
while vessels bring them in large quantities
from wherever they can he found. These
bones are in raw condition, uot having
been used by soap boilers, or in any other
way to lessen their value. When collected
and thrown into heaps under the .uv-r, each
examined, and all such are snitabls to be
used in the arts ars laid aside Tor turner's
cutters, DC, to be used for knobs, aandles
OF knives. canes and umbrellas, and the
smaller pieces to be mnde into buttons
Such as are not 6t to be used in the arts are
thrown into iron restorts, each holding TWO
barrels. The covers OF these retorts are
fitted go exactly that they are nearly or
quite air tight. When thus made ready
they ars let down into a furnance where
the whole mass soon acquires white heat :;
but no air beng admitted, no fame takes
place in the bones. In this intenss beat all
the animal matters, the gelatins. ',i!s, am
monia, &r., are driven off, and 10 the form
of steam passthrough pipe to reservoir
prepared for it in remote part of the build
iEg. The pipe through whi:h they pass
is Immersed in cold WAFER, 20 that the oil
and gelatine leave it in a thickened sta,e,
and most highly charged With the pungen,
aumonia. Careful experiment haying
taught the workmsn how long to allow
the retorls to remain 10 the farnnce, when
tia. time has expired. they are taken on,
sci upon an iron wheebarrow aud truudled
away TO be cooled IF.
The bones are now re.luced to what il
called bonebiack, or animal cha, coal. Thi.
isez'ensiyeIy used in refining sugar. They
are Of shining bIa..k color, brittle and
can be easily sad readily ground. not into
-four, but into qnite small PARTICLES.
Two barrels oil this ground bone are
then spread on the bottom of wooden
VA. -Four gallons Of the liquid that ran
out Of the retort are then thrown upon it,
and the whole thoroughly stirred. When
the mass is sufficiently mixed, from Fifty 10
sixty pounds o; sulphuic acid are added
and mingled. A powerful ehulli,ior, or
boiling, takes place which continues several
minutes. during which time the wo'km+u
keep the Whole mas in notion. When it
subsidies the article has become what is
called superphosphate Of lime. Il is then
dried, packed and ready for market. BY
this process nothing that the bone original
ly contained is lost, although it has uuder
gone. important chemical changes. Such
is the manner 10 whi.h superphospha,e is
obtainsd. Let us apply It to the crnp..
It is not equally adapted to all plants. On
oil the Brsscics family, including the cab
bage, Swedish turuip. o'm,uon fat turnip,
caulif'wer, broccoli, &c., i's influence 10
usually striking and profitable. The
leaves Of the plants grow. larger and
thicker and assume darker green than I
ever seen them under The influence Of any
oshe fertilizer. = Il Is also useful to b+e,p,
mahgolds. peas and beans. and ell other Of
the field and garden crops. 80. se--5:
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