310 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The rectified Peruvian guano, like all other concentrated 

 soluble fertilizers, ought to be mixed with three or four times 

 its bulk of earth before being applied to plants. 



It is the intention of the manufacturers of this new fertilizer 

 to place, before long, a second kind of rectified Peruvian 

 guano in our markets, which shall be guaranteed with 15 

 per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid, and but 5 per cent, of 

 nitrogen. 



Raw guanos, like those described above as Nos. III. or IV., 

 furnished suitable material for that contemplated brand, 

 which evidently is calculated to enter into a closer competition 

 with the largest bulk of our commercial fertilizers, the 

 ammoniated superphosphates. 



None familiar with the subject under discussion can ftiil to 

 recognize that Messrs. Hobson, Hurtado & Co., in establish- 

 ing their trade on a more satisfactory basis by guaranteeing a 

 definite composition, and thus rendering ascertainable the exact 

 commercial value of their fertilizer, are presenting an unusu- 

 ally strong claim for a fair share of future patronage on the 

 part of our farming community. 



In calling attention to this fact, I intended, by no means, 

 to state, that the rectified Peruvian guano may be considered 

 a universal manure ; i. e., a manure which furnishes all the 

 essential elements for plant-growth. To secure the full 

 benefit of both kinds of Peruvian guano, requires, not unfre- 

 quently, the addition of other fertilizing materials to supple- 

 ment the natural resources of the soil, and thereby render the 

 latter capable of supplying efiiciently the periodical special 

 wants of the plants under cultivation. Both contain, mainly, 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid and lime, besides some small per- 

 centage of potassa and magnesia. 



The rectified guano contains the main portion of the phos- 

 phoric acid in a very soluble form ; and most of its lime, in 

 consequence of the addition of sulphuric acid it received for 

 its production from the raw material, is present as sulphate 

 of lime or gypsum ; otherwise, there is but little diflerence 

 between the two, as far as the essential features of fertilizers 

 are concerned. The rectified guano, being the more soluble 

 of the two, acts quicker, and may therefore be more safely 

 applied for spring manuring and tcfp-dressing. 



