Elements of Agricultural ChemistryAnderson, Thomas
Science
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry
Anderson, Thomas
Agricultural chemistry
_Flesh._--The flesh of all animals is useful as a manure, and is
especially distinguished by the rapidity with which it undergoes
decomposition, and yields up its valuable matters to the plant. It is
rarely employed in its natural state, but horse flesh was at one time
converted into a dry and portable manure, although, I understand, this
manufacture is not now prosecuted. The dead animal after being skinned
is cut up and boiled in large cauldrons until the flesh is separated
from the bones. The latter are removed, and the flesh dried upon a flat
stove. The flesh as sold has the following composition:--
Water 12.17
Organic matter 78.44
Phosphate of lime, etc. 3.82
Alkaline salts 3.64
Sand 1.93
------
100.00
Nitrogen 9.22
Ammonia to which the nitrogen is }
equivalent } 11.20
The dried flesh and small bones of cattle, from the great slaughtering
establishments of South America, was at one time imported into this
country under the name of flesh manure. Its composition was--
Water 9.05
Fat 11.13
Animal matter 39.52
Phosphate of lime 28.74
Carbonate of lime 3.81
Alkaline salts 0.57
Sand 7.18
------
100.00
Nitrogen 5.56
Ammonia to which the nitrogen is }
equivalent } 6.67
But owing to the large proportion of phosphates contained in it, it may
be most fairly compared with bones. It is not now imported, the results
obtained from its use being said not to have proved satisfactory,
although this statement appears very paradoxical.
_Fish_ have been employed in considerable quantity as a manure. That
most extensively employed in this country is the sprat, which is
occasionally caught in enormous quantities on the Norfolk coast, and
used as an application for turnips. They are sold at 8d. per bushel,
and their composition is--
Water 64.6
Organic matter 33.3
Ash 2.1
-----
100.0
Nitrogen 1.90
Phosphoric acid 0.91
The refuse of herring and other fish-curing establishments, whales'
blubber, and similar fish refuse, are all useful as manure, and are
employed whenever they can be obtained. They are not usually employed
alone, but are more advantageously made into composts with their own
weight of soil, and allowed to ferment thoroughly before being applied.
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