UTILISING BONES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1891, 19 August 1884, Page 2

UTILISING BONES.

Not many years ago the bones of animals had no money value, and were considered useless rubbish. Later they came into use for making buttons, knifehandles, common piano keys, &c. ; then to supply phosphorus for friction matches and other purposes, the demand for them increasing very rapidly. Soon their value as fertilisers was recognised, and now the farmer who does not save and make good use of all the bones he can find on his place is behind the times. In the processes where large quantities pf bones are used they supply a valuable by-produot in the way of fats or fatty acids which are extensively used in the manufacture of soaps and other articles of commerce. Two prominent bone products enter largely into daily use, viz., glue and animal charcoal. The value of these two products aggregates millions of doljais annually. Such facts show the value of things too often {overlooked, or so "little esteemed as to be permitted to go to waste. farmers generally understand that the chief . fertilising property of bones is the phosphate of lime they contain, amounting to half their dry weight. The, organic part, that which can be burned, out, or will decay out in time, contains much nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and sulphur, the nitrogen' being valuable ; jvs a fertiliser. < > | is The' reduction of bones goes on 'rapidly, in contact vwifch < fermenting: matters. | Tkey4tQus to bjs]seti4ip r and pUsed s .

a compact compost heap with ashes, then covered with a think layer of earth and the mass kept moist. It is better if moistened with liquid manure.