364 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



known results of an inquiry of the New York State Agricult- 

 ural Society into the quality of that article sold in New York 

 city, whieh they had shown to have been due to an adultera- 

 tion of the genuine guano by a party in Brooklyn. 



Second. I did not allow a valuation of the percentage of 

 potassium oxide which these guanos usually contain. 



Third. I had asserted that their articles were liable to 

 suffer from moisture, and also from long storing. 



As these points were quite seriously treated in the commu- 

 nication which I received, I feel obliged to make here some 

 explanatory remarks regarding the stand-point I had chosen. 

 In my report I referred, in a general way, to inferior guanos ; 

 I did not distinguish between a genuine inferior article and an 

 adulterated genuine one ; I told farmers simply to be on their 

 guard. The fact that a fraudulent practice had been carried 

 on in Brooklyn for years, and was discovered only in con- 

 sequence of a mere accidental transaction, cannot but ren- 

 der my advice judicious. A small percentage of potassium 

 oxide — reaching in many cases scarcely more than 1.5 per 

 cent. — does not affect the general character of the Peruvian 

 guano, from an agricultural stand-point;* while the omis- 

 sion of a valuation is more than compensated for by a liberal 

 uniform price accorded to the entire amount of phosphoric 

 acid present. The possibility of an access of moisture to the 

 guano finds a new confirmation in the above sample No. II. 

 A possible deterioration of a genuine Peruvian guano in con- 

 sequence of a long storing is too well recognized to admit of any 

 doubt. The constant evaporation of ammonia — however small 

 during a short period of keeping — becomes a serious feature 

 when the time of storing can be counted by years. 



A late circular from the office of the general agents in New 

 York, dated April, 1874, informs us that most cargoes on 

 hand arrived in the country about three years previous to the 

 date given. 



In repeating here my former advice to our farmers, I do not 

 intend to accuse Messrs. Hobson, Hurtado & Co. of any design 

 on their part to take advantage of their customers ; I have their 

 assurance that they hail any measure which promises to place 



* Professor H. C. White, of Athens, Ga., states his highest result (in 1873) to have 

 been 1.23 per cent., and the lowest 0.54 per cent, of potassium oxide. 



