Horse Hoof Parings.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 91, 17 July 1908, Page 4

Horse Hoof Parings.

At many a smithy may be seen a heap of horse hoof parings, and these are generally wasted, their value to the fruit grower not being known. A note in the "Journal of Horticulture " says that these parings form a good manure for fruit trees and vines, and especially on sandy soils where, by their slow decay, they will yield a gradual supply of nitrogen, as lOOlb. of hoof contains from 81b. to I2lb. of organic nitr.ogen, and from 61b. to iOlb. of phosphoric acid. For comparison it is shown that lOOlb. of bone-meal contains 32^lb. of organic matter, 241b. of phosphoric acid. 24' 2 lb. lime, lib. magnesia, and 4lb. of nitrogen. Inferences may be drawn as to the value of hoofs compared with bones. The hoof parings also generally contain a large portion of manure. Such are best thrown into a heap, say, five or six barrow loads, and sprinkled over with sulphate ot potash, and protected from wet. The heap in the course of six months will form a good manure, and may be

used in the proportion of about onetenth of the loam forming the border, sav one cartload of the hoof manure, two cartloads of old mortar rubbish, one cartload of unbleached wood ashes, and 2cwt. or 3c\vt. of bone-meal, mixed with ten cartloads of turfy loam. This mixture could not be used to any extent, because the hoot parings would not be forthcoming, but it would answer admirably for many small growers.