158 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



nor puppies enough to become an object of attention, yet the reduction of manure to a muci- 

 laginous state ought perhaps to be carried further than it is. Horticulturist. 



How to Use Guano. 



THE London Mark Lane Express, gives the following directions respecting the use of 

 guano. 



First. Never mix it with any thing ; all lime, compost, ashes, and similar ingredients, 

 too often contain enough caustic alkali to drive off the ammoniacal parts before the soil can 

 surround and absorb them. A vast amount of mischief and loss often follows this sad mis- 

 take. If applied alone, the soil will best adapt it for plants. 



Second. Mix as much as possible with the soil, not too deeply, but plow it in after sowing 

 it broadcast, unless it be for beans or drilled and ridged crops, when it may be sown on tho 

 surface before the ridges are made. 



Third. If applied as a top dressing, always apply it, if possible, before rain, or when 

 snow is on the ground ; and if on arable land, harrow, hoe, or scuffle, if possible, immediately 

 after the operation. 



Fourth. The best mode to apply it is by water. A slight solution of it is by far the most 

 powerful and speedy application. 



Fifth. If sowed with drilled grain, or indeed any seed whatever, it should never come in 

 contact. It is not a bad plan to sow broadcast, after the corn-drill, and then harrow, as it 

 is kept in the nearest proximity to the seed, without coming in contact with it. 



Lastly. Be sure to get, if possible, the genuine article; cheap guano there is none. 



The quantity of genuine guano per acre used is from two to three hundred pounds. The 

 latter quantity, when the land is deficient and requires speedy renovation. 



Guano Deposits of the Atlantic. 



IT is now well known that the guano of the Chincha Islands and other sources, under rain- 

 less skies, is a product of a peculiar fermentation, in which ammoniacal salts and nitroge- 

 nous products are formed from a variety of animal matter. Not only the dung, bodies, and 

 eggs of several varieties of birds, but a large amount of flesh and bones of seals, make up 

 the substance of the decomposing mass. 



On the islands of the Atlantic, the dung, bodies, and eggs of birds are found ; but the 

 frequency of rain modifies the decomposition, so that the resulting matter differs essentially 

 from that of the Peruvian shores. It possesses, however, a high value in special applica- 

 tions, and presents some interesting scientific points. 



Dr. A. A. Hayes, of Boston, has fully investigated the composition of the guanos of different 

 islands, including ancient as well as recent deposits. On some of these, two species of 

 birds are still found in countless numbers, which make daily additions to the accumulated 

 remains of former years. 



The substance of this kind of guano is matter derived from the fish-food of birds. Its 

 color is light, yellowish brown, becoming, when air-dried, nearly white. It has no ammo- 

 niacal odor, but smells strongly of freshly-disturbed earth. It is never so finely divided as 

 the Peruvian, its particles being sometimes as coarse as mustard-seed, resembling closely the 

 sand from oolite limestone. There is,- however, always some finely-divided organic matter, 

 in the state of humus, either between the particles or making part of the substance of them. 

 An average composition is the following : 



Moisture after being air-dried 4-40 



Organic matter, crenates, humates, oleates and stearates, magnesia and lime 6-40 



Bone phosphate of lime 46*60 



Carbonate of lime 39-80 



Phosphate magnesia 1"20 



Sulphate lime '80 



Sand -21 



Traces of chloride and sulphate of soda - 



99-41 



