MANURES. 23 



that it is the dung of sea-fowl, accumulated during ages, and 

 that it is imported at a cost varying from nine to eleven 

 pounds per ton. It possesses high fertilizing qualities, is 

 applied to the ground many ditferent ways, and is best 

 applied when a shower of rain is not far of^ that it may be 

 washed into the land. Of the different methods of applying 

 it, there are two that we recommend before all others for a 

 garden. The first is, to mix it with four or five times its 

 quantity of road-sand, or sifted peat, or other very light soil, 

 and sow it evenly all over the surface. The other is, to 

 dissolve it in water, and water the whole surface. The best 

 way to mix it is to lay four or five inches of the soil level on 

 a stone floor or pavement, and, on this, put about half or 

 three quarters of an inch of Guano, then another layer of soil, 

 like the first, and another three quarters of an inch of Guano, 

 tni you have put the quantity you mean to sow ; putting 

 four or five inches of soil on the top. Let this lie together 

 till it is wanted. With regard to quantity, two pounds 

 weight to a sq'iare rod of ground ; that is to say, sixteen feet 

 and a half each way ; therefore, Sow the quantity of composi- 

 tion that contains two pounds of guano. But we need hardly 

 say that when these layers of guano and soil have lain 

 together a few weeks chop it dovni in thin slices, and turn it 

 well, to thoroughly mix it all together. Take advantage of 

 showery weather, if you can, that it may not lie and dry on 

 the surface, and in a day or two sow your crops. AVhen you 

 dissolve it in water, you can tell the quantity of water it will 

 take to water all the space and dissolve the quantity of guano 

 required in it ; stirring it every day for three days, and 

 water the ground with it. These two are the mosf^ easy 

 methods we know of applying guano. Farmers use the same 

 means, but, instead of sowing the mixture broadcast, they 

 drill it into the ground when they are going to sow. They 

 mix it with other dressings, and do not rely on that alone. 

 They occasionally top dress with it in a mixture of some 

 sorts : but we do not use it ourselves in a garden ; we prefer 

 the rotted dung from stable-dung hotbeds, which is half 

 rotted the first year, and is ready for all sorts of use at the 

 end of two. Guano is one of those uncertain things that we 

 should not like to depend on. The quantity put on farming 

 lands, when it is used without other fertilizers, appears to be 

 from two to three hundredweight per acre ; but some things 



