158 TIIE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



nor puppies enough to become an object of attention, yet-the reduction of manure to a muci- 

 laginous state ought perhaps to be carried further than it is. — Horticulturist. 



How to Use Guano. 



Thk London Mark Lane Express, gives the following directions respecting the use of 

 guano. 



Firtt. — Never mix it 'with anything; all lime, compost, ashes, and similar ingredients, 

 too often contain enough caustic alkali to drive off the ammoniacal parts before the soil can 

 surround and absorb them. A vast amount of mischief and loss often follows this sad mis- 

 take. If applied alone, the soil will best adapt it for plants. 



Second. — Mix as much as possible with the soil, not too deeply, but plow it in after sowing 

 it broadcast, unless it be for beans or drilled and ridged crops, when it may be sown on the 

 Burface before the ridges are made. 



Third. — If applied as a top dressing, always apply it, if possible, before rain, or when 

 snow is on the ground ; and if on arable land, harrow, hoe, or scuffle, if possible, immediately 

 after the operation. 



Fourth. — The best mode to apply it is by water. A slight solution of it is by far the most 

 powerful and speedy application. 



Fifth. — If sowed with drilled grain, or indeed any seed whatever, it should never come in 

 contact. It is not a bad plan to sow broadcast, after the corn-drill, ami then harrow, as it 

 is kept in the nearest proximity to the seed, without coming in contact with it. 



Lastly. — Be sure to get, if possible, the genuine article; cheap guano there is none. 



The quantity of genuine guano per acre used is from two to three hundred pounds. The 

 latter quantity, when the land is deficient and requires speedy renovation. 



Guano Deposits of the Atlantic. 



It is now well known that the guano of the Chincha Islands and other sources, under rain- 

 less skies, is a product of a peculiar fermentation, in which ammoniacal salts and nitroge- 

 nous products arc formed from a variety of animal matter. Not only the dung, bodies, and 

 eggs of several varieties of birds, but a large amount of flesh and bones of seals, make up 

 the substance of the decomposing mass. 



On the islands of the Atlantic, the dung, bodies, and eggs of birds are found ; but the 

 frequency of rain modifies the decomposition, so that the resulting matter differs essentially 

 from tli.it of the Peruvian shores. It possesses, however, a high value in special applica- 

 tions and presents some interesting scientific points. 



Dr. \. \. II ayes, of Boston, has fully investigated the composition of the guanos of different 



islands, including ancient as well as r nl deposits. On some of these, two Bpecies of 



birds arc still found in OOUntleSS numbers, which make daily additions to the accumulated 



remains of former years. 

 Tin' substance of this kind of guano i- matter derived from the fish-food of birds. Its 



r i- li'jht. yellowish brown, becoming, when air-dried, nearly white. It iris do ammo- 

 niac:d odor, but smeUs strongly of freshly-disturbed earth. It is never so finely divided ns 

 the Peruvian, it- particles being sometimes as coarse as mustard-seed, resembling olosely the 



i from oolite limestone. There is. however, always some finely-divided organic matter, 

 in the state of humus, either between the particles »r making part of the substance of them. 

 An average composition is the following: 



Moisture after being nir-<lrlfl 4*40 



inic matter, crenates, bwnetes, oleatei and it orates, magnesia and lime I 



Bone phosphate of lime 4fi'M 



Carbonate of lime 



Pboiphate m 1'20 



Bnlphate lime "M 



Sniul -21 



Traces of ch 1- -r i<lt- and sulphate of soda — 



99-41 



