312 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



rectified guano, 4 pounds of a pure bone superphosphate, 

 containing from 9 to 10 per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid ; 

 and 2 pounds of muriate of potash, containing 80 per cent. ; 

 this mixture is, soon after__a good stirring, fit for use. 



Fish Guano. 



The statistical statements in my previous reports, regarding 

 the extent of the business transactions of the Menhaden Oil 

 and Guano Association, which represents most of the fish-ren- 

 dering establishments along the Atlantic Coast, from New 

 Jersey to Canada, cannot fail to demonstrate the unusual 

 importance of the fish refuse from that source for agricultural 

 purposes. 



Their official report of 1874 stated the production of fish 

 guano to be somewhat above 50,900 tons ; during the past 

 year it amounted to 53,625 tons. These figures, I presume, 

 refer to the crude stock, containing from 50 to 55 per cent, of 

 moisture. Adding to this amount the large quantity of fresh 

 fish used by farmers near the sea-shore, which, as a general 

 rule, is not referred to in our market records, it becomes 

 evident that the money value represented in our fish ferti- 

 lizers, even at the ordinary commercial rates, is second to 

 none of the crude stock of our leading conmiercial fertilizers. 



The comparative cheapness of the fish pomace in its crude 

 state, as it comes from the press, has caused its present 

 extensive application as nitrogenous animal matter for the 

 manufacture of the main bulk of our home-made fertilizers — 

 the ammouiated superphosphates. 



An exceptional low price of nitrogen furnishing substances,* 

 as well as the high premium on gold during the past season, 

 has favored various attempts to export the menhaden fish refuse 

 in bulk to England. The material being carefully packed, 

 arrived in good condition, and brought, it is stated, in case 

 of a guarantee of 6 to 6.5 per cent, of ammonia {= from 5 to 

 5.35 per cent, of nitrogen), fourteen dollars per ton. 



Whatever credit we may feel obliged to accord to that 



* Sulpliate of ammonia, whicli not long ago sold at 5^ to 5 cents per pound, has 

 been of late offered at from i^ to 4 cents per pound, in quantities not less than a ton ; 

 and with a guarantee of 25 per cent, of ammonia (= 20.6 per cent, of nitrogen), making 

 the price of nitrogen 20.6 cents per pound. 



