The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-29
Ground Bone.

As it Is not generally known how this
fertilizer Is made we take pleasure IN giy-
ing description Of the largest factory In
the world, that Of Lister Bros, Newark,
New Jersey. The establishment occupies
1 acres Of ground, and possesses an admir-
able front upon the Passlic River, with
suitable wharfage for loading and unload
ing from steamers Twenty five teams are
daily employed in gathering refuse bone
from all parts Of Newark aud vicinity, also
from New York and suburbs while inn
mense quantities are transported from dis
tant points by sailing vessels, from Maine,
New Orleans, and even Brazil amount
ing to an average Of 30 tons per day, or
over 10000 tons per annum.
The bones, Immediately after receipt at
the yard, are divided into several classes.
fhe thigh bones are assorted by themselves
for burning into bone black, or for sale to
the bone-tnrners 10 convert into ivory ware
knife-handles, napkin-rings, tooth-brushes,
etc; the skulls form another heap, while
the remainder form still another mass.
From these two last heaps the bones are
carried into the interior of the factory, and
east Into large wooden tanks, filed with
hot water from the boilers, and here they
are boiled until the meat is separated from
the bone. They are then dipped out, the
bones thrown into one pile, and the meat
carried into another room. The meat i
then manipulated with su'phuric acid,
heated, and dried. Then it is brought to
the grinding mills, These consist Of a
series Of FIVE mills, one after the other,
intimately connected, and of tremendous
capacity aud strength. Into the first mill
i workman throws the bones from the big
heap mixed with due proportion of the
dried meat These pass through three sets
of grinding rollers in the first mill then
pass in little cups up into another receiver;
and again pass through second mill,
ground fine, and again passes by cups up
TO the receiver Of third mill, from which
it energies in the form Of fine ground bone.
This is the article generally used for farm
purposes, being 6nc enough to sow broad
cast and give good immediate effect, yet
lasting over years ahead
The same article is passed again through
fourth mill, ground finer than ever, and
emerges in the form Of bone meal--the
bones being very minute, and forming a
coarse-grained meal This we consider
the best Of all ar icles Of their manufac-
ture the effects being excellent the very
first year, and still not exhausted for sub
sequent crops. This is not all. The bone
meal itself is passed through a fifth mill,
with fine teeth, grinding close and fine, and
from this comes bone-flour; while a blower
creates a draft in the pipe and blows all
the very finest particles from the -four as
il deseends into chamber, where it falls
into long bags and is saved, This is known
as bone-foat--a powder so fine as almost
to float in the air, and lighter than any
grain-fower or meal we have ever known.
This is used especially for making liquid
manure, to apply to house-plants or for
garden purposes, being as quick as guano.
The establishment runs night and day,
the entire year, employs ) engines Of 90,
10 and 10 horse power respectively, 200
men, and 5 steamboats, constantly at work I;
and stlll are insufficient for their extend
ing business. Every farmer knows that
good bone Is one Of the very best articles
to apply on his crops,whether broadcast to
help his grass, land and grain, or TO apply
IN the hill but many unscrupuous dealers
by aduiterating their articles and adding
from 10 to 20 per cent. mineral matter
and plaster, add from So to $40 per ton
to their profits This amounts in the