60 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



American Guano. This name has been applied to the product furnished by the low 

 coral islands in the far western Pacific, and which is inferior to the guanos of the islands on 

 the coast of Peru, owing to its being deposited in a region exposed, to a certain extent, to 

 rains, also moisture from the low character of the surface of the islands, and from being 

 mingled more or less with the soil. These islands are ten in number, the principal being 

 Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Enderbury, and Starbuck. The guanos they furnish differ much 

 from the Peruvian, being free from odor, and resembling brown dust in appearance, while 

 they are nearly destitute of nitrogen, but rich in phosphates. The African and Peruvian 

 guanos are light in color, and have a pungent odor. It is estimated that Baker Island alone 

 contained 160,000 tons before the supply was diminished by transportation, since the inaugu 

 ration of the guano enterprise. Enderbury also contained about the same amount, while 

 that of the other islands varied in quantity from 20,000 to 50,000 tons. Some of the islands 

 have already been abandoned, their supply being exhausted. As a general rule, a larger 

 quantity of this will be required for most soils than the Peruvian, as it is less rich in fertilizing 

 properties than the latter. 



Bat Guano is found in caves in many of the Southern States from Virginia to Texas. 

 It is stated that, before the war, this substance was experimented with for the extraction of 

 nitre, which it was thought to contain in abundance, many of the experiments proving quite 

 successful in obtaining a large per cent, of this compound, but not sufficiently so to warrant 

 continuing the working of it for this purpose. It is, however, thought to be a valuable 

 fertilizing material, most of the samples that have hitherto been analyzed having been found 

 to contain a fair per cent, of organic nitrogen, while many of them contain ammonia and 

 nitrates. In Highland Co., Virginia, also in Tuscumbia, Alabama, these deposits are said to be 

 quite extensive, the latter containing a cave from eighty to ninety feet deep, and about three 

 miles wide, where it is found in great quantities. The guano furnished from this source has 

 been tried on corn, tobacco, and some other products, with good results. The Commissioner 

 of Agriculture says: 



&quot;The continued examination of bat-guano has afforded results confirming those obtained 

 by the former analysis, and proving the wealth of native fertilizing material existing in the 

 South. Indeed, calculations based upon the reported extent of the deposits and the proportion 

 of valuable constituents they are found by analyses to contain, show the aggregate value of 

 this material that may be considered in sight to amount to about $20,000,000. Surely 

 Southern cultivators need no urging to induce them to take advantage of these stores of 

 fertility for their poor or exhausted soils.&quot; 



Dr. Goessmann, of Massachusetts, says the value of bat-guano, as a fertilizer, compares in 

 value favorably with those of the fish products largely manufactured in New England, and 

 even with Peruvian guano. Not having used this substance, or seen the result of its 

 application, we are not able to speak from experience or observation on this subject, but, 

 judging by the estimation placed upon it by those having a knowledge of its use, as well as 

 by the result of chemical analyses, we do not doubt that this product may be utilized to the 

 great advantage of agriculture in many of the Southern States. 



Wood Ashes. Wood ashes are particularly valuable as a fertilizer, containing a large 

 proportion of potash, which is in a condition to act quickly upon the soil in furnishing a 

 stimulating element of plant-food, and are consequently the best of saline manures; they 

 however vary in quality according to the quality of that from which they are produced, ashes 

 from hard wood being more valuable than those from the soft varieties. But any farmer 

 who knows the value of ashes, would not permit to be wasted those from any source; all 

 would be carefully saved and applied to his lands; and when they can be procured on rea 

 sonable terms, it would well repay purchasing them for this purpose. 



