THE 3IAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



AUGUST, 1852. 



ORIGINAL COMxMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Mineral Manures, and the Value of Guano as 

 compared with Manure. By the Editor. 



In our last volume, (XVI, p. 529,) we discussed the im- 

 portant question of the Mineral Theory of Manures, and 

 promised to take up the subject again at a future time. An 

 opportunity to present the views of an eminent chemist, Mr. 

 David A. Wells, of Cambridge, which we think go to sub- 

 stantiate our opinion there expressed, induces us to do so at 

 this time, and also to present some well authenticated facts 

 relative to the value of guano as compared with stable manure. 



Mr. Wells was intrusted by the secretary of the Ohio 

 State Board of Agriculture, Prof. W. W. Mather, v/ith the 

 office of examining, analyzing, and reporting upon the nature 

 and composition of the soils of that state, particularly those 

 of the rich Scioto valley. A full account of his labors is 

 given in Silliman''s Journal for July, from which we make 

 the following extracts : — 



The soil which I would first notice, was taken from the 

 best bottom-land, opposite the mouth of Sun-fish creek, about 

 one hundred yards east of the Scioto. This ground is occa- 

 sionally overflowed, and has been cleared and cultivated 

 about eighteen years successively in corn, and yields with 

 ordinary culture from seventy to eighty bushels of corn to 



VOL. XVIII. NO. VIII. 43 



