Treating Old Bones for Manure

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 146

Treating Old Bones for Manure

TNFORMATION on how to utilise old A bones for manurial purposes is sought by a correspondent, G.B. (Opotiki), who writes:— y I have' a quantity of old bones lying around, and wish to do something with them, and have been told that if put. in a large container, layer for layer, bones and woodash, I will be able to use the bones, for they will break down to a mealy substance under, the influence of the wood ash in about six months’ time. Has this matter ever come to the notice of officers of the Department of Agriculture in that form, and will that happen, and what value would such manure be? I know how good wood ash is. Would the bone contain the same or nearly the same valufe for manurial purposes as the steamed bone obtained from the works. If the above method of reducing bones for manure is not practicable, how can it be done (if possible) on any farm, as most farms have bones that could be made use of, if there was some easy method such as the above seems to be? In' reply, an Instructor in Agriculture states: —I have not heard of wood ashes being , employed to reduce the hard tissue of the bones to a friable condition, but a method employing quick-lime is not an uncommon prac-

tice today, while ~ a very old method depending upon fermentation may also be profitably used , under certain conditions, (1) Quick-lime Method. Upon a 6 in. layer of bones place a 3 in. layer of lime and then a 4 in. layer of loamy soil. Repeat this process until a heap of practical dimensions has resulted, and then completely cover with a thick layer of good soil. Holes are then bored into the heap from the top and water poured in to slake the lime. For two or three months the mass of material will be very, hot, but after this period the bones will be found to be satisfactorily reduced, and the whole heap may then be thoroughly mixed together. The “fertiliser” can then be _ either bagged and stored away or used immediately. > , . ! (2) Fermentation Method. A heap of bones and soil is made as above (2/3 bones to 1/3 good soil), and the layers thoroughly moistened with urine during the process of building. If obtainable, horse urine is better than cattle urine, but the latter is quite satisfactory ; and more easily procured. When completed, a thin layer of , soil on top will suffice, and from time to time additions of urine should be made. Normally, 'a few weeks should be sufficient to reduce the bones to an effective condition. Then thoroughly mix heap and use as for method No. 1. In manorial value both of the methods described should give you the full phosphate-content . of the bones used. As a relatively large quantity of more or less inert matter (soil) has been employed in reducing the bones to a usable condition, however, it will be apparent that a greater amount, of the mixture will be necessary, say, per acre, than if the bones had been treated alone. By reason of the quick-lime

used in method; No. 1, the resultant mixture will, of course, be greatly enriched in this calcium compound very essential in certain circumstances, but not so much in others. On the other hand, the urine used .to ferment the bones in method No. 2 will have added some nitrogen and quite a little potash to the final mixture.

New Animal Feed

WARTIME difficulties in the operation of the cod fishing industry have led to the introduction of two new materials for animal feeding. The first is a diluted cod liver oil—a mixture of cod liver oil of high vitamin potency with other edible oil —and the second a solution of vitamins A and D edible oil. The British Standards Institute, with the approval of the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, has now issued standards for these substitutes; B.S. 909, vitamins A and D in oil for animal feeding purposes, and B.S. 910, controlled cod liver oil mixture for animal feeding purposes. The British Standards require the materials to have vitamin potencies of a sufficiently high level for animal feeding purposes, and it is stipulated that the British Standard Chick Test, B.S. 911, shall be the standard for ensuring that all the vitamin D present is of the form suitable for poultry feeding. Copies of these specifications can be obtained from the New Zealand Standards Institute, Hamilton Chambers, 201 Lambton Quay, Wellington C. 1., price 2/9 each, post free.