Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-05-27
From the Nelo Engldnd FarRer.
REDUCING BONES.

the right direction, when farmers MANI
fest desire to learn the cheapest and
most practicable mode of reducing bones.
There are few well regulated farms but
furnish more or less bones. lnyears gone
bv. these were scattered about or left tor
the dogs 10 remove, and so really were OF
no practical benefit 10 the soil to which
thew should be returned. One OF the
first steps towards anything like economy
was a saving of the scattered bones, to
be sold TO the ''bOne man, who was col
Letting for a small price, for the purpose
of manufacture into superphoSphate. But
while this was better than TO let them 90
10 waste. it was Attending but slight means
for the return of fertilizing material TO
the soil. Since. however, the demand
has increased. and the value of bones has
come TO DC proverbial, the spirit Of econ
omv has still further advanced, and the
thrifty farmer not only saves al that can
be accumulated upon his own farm, but
also makes purchases of both whole bones
and the ground article, to the end OF
making a reliable and valuable fertilizer
for his crops. 4 considerable number OF
farmers. reasoning in the line of iegih-
mate economy. are satisfied, and make
the claim that taking the raw material
they can manufacture for half the money.
a superphoSphate more reliable than that
placed upon the market; but this involves
the purchase Of ground bone and sui
phuuc acid, with which 20 reduce them,
and does not strictly meet the case OF
reducing bones as they are gathered upon
the farm. There Is probably no doubt
upon the point Of reducing whole bones
BY means Of ashes, If all the requisite
conditions are complied with. Cases have
been mentioned in which bones have been
packed in ashes. remaining a year, and
coming out as sound as when first put in;
the trouble probably was, that there was
not sufficient moisture to render the ashes
effective as q disjntegrating agent. VII
lard b. Clark has practiced reducing them
with ashes. and Is SURF that they Will
accomplish the desired result.
4 large caSk OF kettle IS the best thing
in which 70 accomplish the work. as then
the whole force Is brought into dircct
contact with the bones. ANYTHING Ike
"a hog>head VIII contain o large quantity.
and even an excess Of ashes viii do no
harm. but viii rather accelerate the de-
sired effect. Mr.. Clark thinks that II Is
preferable, on the score OF economy. Co
reduce bones in this way, rather than %
use ground bone in the domestic manu-
facturc OF phosphate; and III keeping the
mixture moist, be makes use OF chamber
slopS and urinc. which he believes acccl-
crates the process Of reduction, which.
under ordinary circumstances, requires
five or SIN months time This mode Is
exceedingly simple, and Is accomplished
by means Of materials in The possession
of the farmer, and l., therefore, well
adapted to hard times.
Royal ~ Thompson, a careful farmer.
and possessed Of excellent judgment, pun
sues a different mode. and which Is also
very successful and satisfactory, although
a little more expensive than by the mode
above suggested. His plan Is to pack the
bones as closely as possible In set ket-
Tie, and then for every hundred pounds @,
bones, employ twenty -hvc pounds of COM
mercial potash, dissolved in sufficient Wa
ter 20 cover the bones. and then heat them
gradually. In a little time the potash
vii cut the bones SO that the mixture
VIII become of the consistency OF soft
soap, and Is then dried of by an apPh-
cation OF chip-dirt, muck, or dry earth.
He has made free use of this formula
upon al kinds of crops, with the most
gratifying results.
Still another mode Of reducing bones
was suggested by Lyman c. Clark, al a
meeting of the Columbia, Conn, Farm
ers' Club, He stated that the most
profitable way Of reducing bones was q
take a hammer and pound them tinC
enough % be dcvourcd by fowls, and that
beng passed through the fowls the bones
wcr., 50 to speak, condensed into one OF
the most powerful fertilizers upon IN,
farm. In this opinion he was sustained
bv Giles Little, Who also added that
fowls would eat pounded bones sooner
than they would corn. 1t would seem a.
though there Is no special objection &c
this latter course, provided the fowls ar,
housed, 50 that the dropPings can be saved
otherwise they would hardly be available
10 that extent which would be desirable
With the present knowledge upon the
subject there need be little trouble II
bringing bones INTO an available form to
plant food WILLIAM IT, GEONANS.
Columbia, Conn. 1879.