Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-17
Bone Phosphate for Lawns

have been using bone manure on nv lawn
Smn dsfaatliyihg results. The ground is on
With some difficulty the lawn mower is used
more SO when the grass becomes thick. Uenna
nave given 1t light dressings OF manure only
sStiiclenI 10 keep good green established As
tne ground originally was worthless these
dressings were the more required, and they also
showed more p ainly what was needed. AZ
htst reiiaLee was put wholly upon home fertil-
KerS including road dust compost. and 10
some extent, SKINNED milk and urine. ali which
nad an effect, each according to Its properties
MILK was the most effective, but too expensive
10 use; Urine was little behind It. The effect of
each became visible week after the applica-
ZION, and Id a few weeks more Ii had expended
us 1Orce know OF no manure that Is equal to
ln Ie ID rapid action. But this was just what
Gu not want. wanted more slow and perma-
nent growth. This | got to some extent I'm
road DUST well charged with horse dung, aud
more Ia tne compost, a part OF which was the
contents or the earth closet The application of
these stimulantS had to be made Several times
IN season to keep up uniform and not exces-
slVe growth For several years this was con-
un9eo, when the clipped grass began to tell. in
caudlng the retention OF the fall growth for pro-
lection. which afforded good chance for esti-
mating It's effect. BY 1t the land slowly but
gradually gla9 improved the soil being principally
when wet it has begun TO assume a rich brown
cast, ana Is less affected by drouth. II ia the
vegetable material OF the Gecaying roots and the
cnpplngs that have mainly accomplished this
THlpg somewhat OF these frequent anpIica
IONS OF manure OF a character not pleasant TO
handle, and some OF them (the road dust and
composO requiring raking, and then for weeks
other fertilizers. Bone phosphate seemed to
DE what wanted so secured some last year.
ana gave my land light busting. on one end
doubling the dose. The effect became visible
after some time. Ii was slow ia its action.
aid maintained Ii during the season, varying
VIII the weather, not appearing to be OF use In
afouIn, buI liking dark, damp days, In which
il produced rich, fresh verdure. 1t was the
only manure used that season, and proved
quite satisfactory.
Bone phosphate, l am confident, has its effect
increased on grass lands by the Intervention Of
winter, the frost by its action covering it. this
fertilizer requiring darkness for full effect In
the spring the benefit was continued less SO
during The rather severe drouth that followed,
but increasing again with the moist weather of
July. This was decisive with this fertilizer.
showing that ft was adapted to the land, and
just what wanted: but there is more of 1t yet
drouth again occurring, it suffered somewhat
but less than the surrounding grass fields. parti-
cnlarly pasture, which was almost ruined. The
northern inclination favored me somewhat
after this: on the 10Th OF August, moist weather
again SET In, and continued more or less during
the remainder OF the month, the grass puShin 2
and thickenlpg even more than al any time be-
ftre-so much SO that on the part receiving the
aouDle dose OF the phosphate the Scythe had 10
be used. Thus single application has served
me Tor two years, giving me better grass than
reIoIe. more UNIFORM In growth and appear
aDce, without any road dust or compost TO show,
or frequent labor Of applying. Ali this annoy
aDCe Is avoided, and good turf established at
mere title OF expense. IL is all owing to the
fact-and an important fact 1t Is to farmers
that the phosphate is adapted to the SOIL Other
wise the case would have been different show
iIg The necessity of first testing.
After had seen the good effect last year OF
the phosphate, concluded to make another APP
plicalion the present season, increasing the
quantity, but the unexpected success has led
me TO change my plan. l shall now dispense
with any farther use OF the fertilizer, in the
hope that the soil may become self-supporting.
the clippings furnishing sufficient pabulum TO
nouIish the grass, with perhaps the aid of a
little plaster, and an occasional light dressing
OF lime to act on the vegetable material at the
surface. II this fails, have the phosphate to
fall back On, and the increased effect or the in
creased use on one part Of the lawn assures me
OF lis reliability. IL is composed OF bone dust
and Of grains OF more or less coarseneSS. IL is
the coarse grains that give it permanence and
they should form large part OF every bone
manure intended for the lawn.-CouptI'y Cen
Ue3DQU