Modern high farming. A treatise on soils, plants, and manures by Wyatt Francis d. 1916

Author:Wyatt, Francis, d. 1916
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fertilizers, Agricultural chemistry
Publisher: New York, C.E. Bartholomew
Published: 1886-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI.

MINEHAL MANURES BONES AND WHAT THEY TAUGHT US

SULPHURIC ACID AND NITRATE OP SODA BONE ASH

ANIMAL CHARCOAL, OR BONE BLACK BONE MEAL

SULPHATE OP AMMONIA ITS GREAT POWER OP DECOMPOSING OTHER MANURES HOW TO DETECT IMPURE NITRATE

OP SODA NITRATE OP POTASH, OR SALTPETRE PHOSPHATE OP LIME RIVER PHOSPHATES CANADIAN PHOSPHATE A RIDICULOUS EXTORTION.

We have now to undertake the examination of those mineral fertilizers which come next in order, and which form the staples of that great and advancing industry, chemical manure manufacture.

For the sake of comprehensiveness and brevity, we propose to divide our subject in the following order :

First. —A hasty glance at the principal sources and the agricultural value of phosphatic and other raw materials of a mineral nature, with analytical tables showing their composition.

Second. —A description of the principal sources of sulphur pyrites, and of sulphuric acid and superphosphate manufacture, with brief notes on the mixing of various compound manures.

As we have already roughly described, in a preceding chapter, how mineral phosphates are found in nature, we need merely refer our readers to the particulars there given, and at once attack the practical question before us.

Bones are a very old and very favorite manure, and it is to their employment and to the researches ensuing upon their marked effect that we owe our discoveries relating to the part played by phosphoric acid in the soil.

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Their extensive use in the manufacture of phosphorus has, however, so much enhanced their commercial v&lue, that we may look upon them as beyond the reach of the agriculturist.

"When dissolved in sulphuric acid and mixed with nitrogenous materials, or farm-yard offal, to form complete manures, they may be considered as occupying the very foremost place in the order of merit as fertilizing agents.

They are frequently used with nitrate of soda, in the raw crushed state, as a dressing to sandy soils and pasture lands; but we have personally found their action in these cases to be very slow,tmd their assimilation a work of time, so that we cannot recommend a continuance of the practice.

BoNB Ash results from the burning of bones and is chiefly exported from the cattle-raising districts of South America, where, fuel being scarce, the bones are burnt in the process of extracting the fat from the slaughtered oxen.

Animal Charcoal or Bonb Black is justly esteemed by all those who are fortunate enough to obtain it on reasonable terms. It is an excellent absorbent, and is extensively used in sugar refineries, being only delivered to agriculture when it has lost its powers of discoloring the juices.

Bone Meal is the impalpable powder of bones, from which a steam process has succeeded in extracting all the gelatine.

The following table shows the general composition of these materials :

Crvshed Bonk Bonb Bones. Ash. Mbal.

Moisture 6.94 2.18 5.27

♦Organic Matter 36.93 6.43 17.15

Phosphate of Lime 48.26 69.95 68.02

Carbonate of Lime and undetermined Mineral Salts.. 7.46 14.01 9.16

Insoluble Matter 0.41 7.43 0.40

100.00 100.00 moo

♦Containing Nitrogen * 3.72 Traces. 1.68

Sulphate of Ammonia is largely obtained from animal urine, but chiefly

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