AFRAID OF THE TEST. 3G5 



the sale of fertilizers on the basis of their real worth. They 

 recognize the propriety of selling those articles by a chemical 

 analysis, and are willing to fulfil their obligation as far as 

 practicable ; yet they feel some doubt regarding an entire 

 success on their part, on account of their present peculiar 

 situation. Their position regarding a strict compliance with 

 our law for the regulation of the fertilizer trade is, it is true, 

 an unfavorable one, and will remain thus as long as the Peru- 

 vian government insists upon the privilege of selling its 

 guanos without a satisfactory responsibility concerning the 

 chemical composition of the article sold. The only conces- 

 sions which that government thus far has made toward its 

 complaining customers are, — judging from late responsible 

 publications, — that all countries shall be treated alike, and that 

 the contents of every cargo shall be mixed before being 

 packed and shipped. It refuses still to sell the guanos by a 

 standard analysis, which is generally recognized as being the 

 only practicable way to avoid just complaints. The price of 

 each kind of guano is usually decided on for years, although 

 it is well known that the successive layers of the same deposit 

 are liable to vary in a remarkable degree. The exist- 

 ence of these variations has been rendered quite prominent 

 for years past, wherever the trade in fertilizers has been sub- 

 jected to a careful control by chemical analysis. I could fur- 

 nish, if needed, sufficient evidence on that point from home 

 observations. 



Whilst thus recognizing the exceptional position of our 

 dealers in Peruvian guano, it seems to me essential that some 

 mode of operation should be adopted which would enable them, 

 without any particular pecuniary sacrifice, to comply with the 

 requirements of our law ; namely, to sell with reference to a 

 guaranteed chemical composition, and thereby secure to them- 

 selves that liberal share of the trade in fertilizers to which a 

 good Peruvian guano is so eminently entitled. 



The European agents of the Peruvian government have 

 been obliged, in the interest of their trade, to furnish their 

 customers, of their own accord, a guano of a uniform compo- 

 sition, by subjecting the imported raw material to a chemical 

 treatment. The general satisfaction which this course has 



