The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-17
farm aud Gardem.
Commercial Fertilizers.


1t is said that some of the farmers in
Pennsylvania find it to be a good plan to
apply one ton per acre of undissolved
ground bone, thinking they get the
benefit the first year. and continuous
ly for number of years. But this, to
farmers of ordinary means, would seem to
be lying out of their money and interest
too long, and not many could afford 1T.
Bones scattered about over every farm
may be utilized by breaking them up,
and mixing with unslacked ashes slightly,
but repeatedly dampening them, after
putting in barrels or hogsheads. They
can also be "rotted' by putting them in
beans of fresh horse manure and turf,
placing the turf over the pile to prevent
the escape Of the heat. This, however, re-
ouires a considerable time, and the bones
are often imperfectly dissolved, unless
beaten up fine. If the bones are first
burned in the fire, and then put in ashes
or the manure heap, their dissolution is
much more rapid and perfect This it is
true, drives off the ammonia, but all the
mineral constituents are preserved. If
the bones burned in the fire are put along
with the ashes in the manure pile, then
gypsum (plaster) should be occasionally
sprinkled over it, to prevent the escape
of ammonia, which ashes otherwise will
cause. If the farmers will not take the
trouble TO do this, then let them take
care of every bone on the farm, burn it
we'll in the fire-places or stoves and spread
on the land with the ashes, which should
be kept under shelter until ready for use.
IF this is not done, the ashes will be much
l. -, ! L
the rains Every quart of ashes made on
the farm should be taken care of, for they
are very valuable but instead of this,
many farmers, perhaps most, permit them
to be thrown in the corners, or out of way
places. Ashes, beside their 10 per cent
of potash, contain 5 per cent of phosphoric
acid, that is from good oak wood. Those
from pine wood contain about as much
phosphoric acid and about half as much
potash. This phosphric acid is equal to
more than 10 per cent Of phosphate lime
Leached ashes contain between fourth
and fifth part as much potash as the un-
Ieached, and not quite so much phos-
phoric acid; so the farmer sees what he
Is loosing by exposing his ashes to the
weather But to return to the phos-
pilates.
The flour of bone" is certainly a good
form of bone to use particularly for the
wheat crop. Put on at the time of seed
ing the bone seems to come well into play
by the time the grain is to be formed
and to aid much in filling out the grain,
and making it heavy and perfect. The
dissolved bone" and ammonia sometimes
seem to be expended in making large
MT Of 81, IL
increase in the grain.
The sources of phosphoric acid are raw
bone, bone-ash, bone black, (refuse from
sugar factories in which the bone has been
used for refining and the phosphates
from different countries in Europe, the
South Carolina and Navassa ,phosphates.
and the Coproltes (Which are the con-
tents of the intestines Of ante-diluvian
animals,) which have been converted into
4 phosphate of lime, or they are rounded
4 pieces of fossil bone. Ashes, stable man
ure plants, &C., contain phosphoric acid
but the first mentioned substances are the
source of the phosphoric acid used bv the
manufacturers of fertilizers. Bone-ash is
prepared from bones of slaughtered cattle
by burning, generally in the open air, by
which the carbon and ammonia are driy-
en- off, along with other organic matters.
1t is brought mostly from South America.
Bone black or animal charcoal is made
by calcination, which drives off the vola-
tile matter, except the carbon. It is
ground, and used by sugar refners for
bleaching and refining their sugars. Az
ter being thus used, it is then bought up
to make superphosphates by addition OF
sqlPhuric acid, retaining most of it's phos-
phate lime, besides some organic matter
e acquired especially when used with blood
IN the refining process.
The best specimens of natural phos-
pilates 4 of lime are obtained from Spain
and Bavaria There is also fine bed in
wales. The phosphates of good quality
are also extensively obtained from South
carolina and from Navassa, near Hayti
IN the West Indies The Sombrero gu.
ano and the Coprolites contain a large
per centage of phosphate of lime. T. p.
New England Not SO Bad After All
Thousands Of acres of land are lvino
rClIo IN l,, IL