The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-24

A correspondent of the London Ne
chdnic and World of Science gives the fol-
lowing methods of preparing bones for
fertilizing: If you have ground bones
make them up into compact heap with
twice the bulk of coal ashes, muck, saw
dust. loan, or even sand; moisten the
whole thoroughly with water, and cover
the head with few inches of earth. In
warm weather the bones will begin TO heat
in few DAYS, and usually in a week or
two the bones will be reduced to moldy
mass that may be rubbed TO powder in the
hand. The exterior of the heap for few
inches of depth may not ferment as thor
oughly. If needful the heap may be OPEN
ed, turned, moistened again, and set into a
second fermentation. The larger the heap
the finer the bone, and the warmer the
weather the more rapidly will the ferment-
alton 90 on. The above process will not
only reduce coarSely-cruShed bones to a
state suitable for distribution. but is an ex-
cellent treat to give bOne-dust just before
application, rendering it more active.
With coarser bones more time will be
ncedful, while opening the top of the heap
at various points and pouring in stale
urine or dung-heap liquor will expedite
the process.
The Russian method of reducing en-
tire bones with potash, or what amounts
10 the same thing, with wood ashes and
lime, is as follows: TO 1000 pounds OF
bone take 1000 pounds of wood ashes, GOO
pounds of fresh-burned lime, and 1890
pounds of water. First slake the lime TO
a powder. mix it with the ashes, and plac-
ing layer of bones in a wooden Vessel-a
pit in the ground lined with boards or
stone slabs-cover the mixture, lay down
more bones and cover. and repeat this un-
Ill half the bones or 1000 pounds are in
terstratitied with the ashes and lime; then
pour on $500 pounds of water, and let it
stand. From time to time add water to
keep the mass moist. As soon as the
bones have sOftened so that they can be
crushed between the fingers to a soft soap
like mass, take the other 1000 pounds OF
bones and stratify them in another vessel
or pit with the contents Of the first.
When the whole is soft, shovel it out to
dry, and finally mix with dry muck or
l0am. (4,0O0 pOunds,) or enough to make
it handle well.
| should suppose that the latter measure
might be advantageOusly modified some
what as follows: Arrange a circular layer
of bones, closely laid on bed a foot thick
of good loan; wet them from a watering
pot, and sprinkle wood ashes over them
enough to fill the chinks. then give coat
ing of gypsum; put upon that few inch
es of muck or loan, and add as much wa
ter as will well mOisten the earth and ash
eS, but not more than the mass will easily
absorb then place another layer of bones,
with ashes, gypsum, soil, and water, as
before. until the heap is built up several
feet: finally cover with loan, and keep
moist by adding water from time to time.
but not enough to run away from the bed.
When the bones are sufficiently sOftened,
mix well together with the loan used as
bed and cover, and with more if need be.
This plan would require longer time, but
[ think would be nearly as efficaciOus and
more convenient than the process last de
Scribed. | am not aware that it has been
tried in practice