No. 63. J 81 



general use of bones has been introduced into England, vast quanti- 

 ties are gathered and imported from all parts of the world. As an 

 instance of this traffic, it may be mentioned that at Hull alone, in 

 1815, 8,000 tons of bones were imported; and this amount, at the 

 same place, had increased in 1835, to 27,500 tons. 



Guano is another manure of animal origin, which has lately been 

 brought to notice. It is the excrement of sea-birds; and the im- 

 mense masses of it existing on the rocky isles of the Pacific, in 

 the vicinity of Arica in Peru, are the accumulations of centu- 

 ries. That, in this state, it differs from the newer excrements, can 

 scarcely be questioned, as the action of the atmosphere must have 

 produced many chemical changes during the lapse of years. Analy- 

 sis shows it to consist chiefly of insoluble and soluble salts, chiefly 

 phosphate of lime and organic matter, or salts 32 parts, and organic 

 matter 68. A large portion of the organic matter is uric acid and 

 ammonia; and regarded as a manure, it may be considered as a urate 

 of ammonia. It appears as a fine brownish powder, with a strong 

 marine or fishy smell, and gives oflf ammoniacal fumes when heated. 

 Several ship loads of this manure have been carried to England; and 

 the experiments show, what indeed the analysis would prove, that it 

 is to be classed among the most efficient of manures. It has succeed- 

 ed well, whether applied to grain, grasses, or to roots. There is no 

 necessity of enlarging on this manure here, as it is not probable that 

 it will ever be introduced to any extent into the United States, while 

 we have so many easily accessible sources of fertility that have as 

 yet hardly been touched, among us. It may be mentioned in this 

 place, that the dung of domestic fowls is one of the most valuable of 

 farm manures, far exceeding in power even that of the hog or horse; and 

 though not equal to guano in ammonia, probably from there not being 

 as much animal food used in its production, still deserving more at- 

 tention in this respect than it has received. 



All animal products, capable of putrefaction or decomposition, can 



be converted into manures; fish, flesh, gristle, sinews, skin, horns, 



hair, wool, and indeed all animal solids or fluids are of this 



Various i n i • i i • i 



animal Character. Ihe man who allows his dead animals to putre- 

 fy and waste away above ground, is guilty of great improvi- 

 dence; and converts what might be made a valuable manure into a 

 decided nuisance. A dead horse, covered with earth or vegetable 

 mold, mixed with a little lime or gypsum, will, when decayed and 

 [Senate No. 63.J L 



