IX -THE EXTENT OF THE USE OF FISH GUANO AS A FERTILIZER. 



By Chas. W. Smiley. 



In the fall of 1879 the iuquiry, "Is fish guano in any of its forms 

 used by your farmers!" was addressed to every postmaster in the 

 United States. From 30,022 returns, the following facts have been 

 ascertained : 



I. Fish guano is not used in any of the following twenty-one States 

 and Territories: Alaska,!; Arizona, 34; Arkansas, 435 ; Colorado, 161; 

 Dakota, 184; Idaho, 45; Illinois, 1,154; Indiana, 792; Indian Terri- 

 tory, 40; Iowa, 836; Kansas, 749; Minnesota, 515; Missouri, 835; 

 Montana, 64; Nebraska, 373; Nevada, 62; New Mexico, 54; Oregon, 

 211; Texas, 752; Utah, 113; and Wyoming, 46. The numbers given 

 with each political division denote the number of negative replies re- 

 ceived to the question, the total being 7,462, and covering every county 

 in the divisions named. 



II. In the following ten States and Territories there are indications of 

 a very slight use of lish guano. In some cases the reporters may not 

 have carefully distinguished between fish guano and other kinds, while 

 others have evidently spoken of unmanufactured refuse of the fish- 

 eries. All reports that are believed to point to the use of fish in any 

 form as a fertilizer are here quoted : 



1. California. — "Shrimi) shucks from San Francisco are used by 

 Chinese gardeners to a considerable extent:" Grass Valley, Nevada 

 County. " To some extent in vegetable and strawberr;y culture : " Santa 

 Clara, Santa Clara County. 



The following statement by A. W. Saxe, M. D., of Santa Clara, is 

 of interest: "I know of no one in this vicinity using fish as a fertilizer, 

 except Judge D. C. Thonias, who was induced to try it bj Mr. A. Bar- 

 stow, of San Francisco. Tlie material is mostly dried shrimps and 

 waste of codfish and salmon. On strawberry land he uses from 300 to 

 400 pounds per acre. It pays well in the increased yield and finer 

 quality of fruit. In 1879 he used ten tons on his extensive strawberry 

 plantation, and would have used more if he could have gotten it. He 

 sows it broadcast on the land after the first plowing and cultivates it into 

 the soil. It stimulates vegetation wonderfully. It is gathered by the 

 Chinese fishermen at or near Point Arena, in Mendocino County, put 

 up in bales after being sun-dried and sbij)ped to China, probably to be 



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