DISSOLVED PERUVIAN FISH GUANO. 371 



Peruvian guano," I addressed, a few months ago, a letter to 

 Messrs. Olendorff & Co., of Hamburg, asking for a sample 

 of that article. They kindly sent me one pound of it, with 

 numerous statements from leading agriculturists regarding its 

 superior efficacy as compared with the raw "Peruvian guano." 

 I subjected that sample to a careful chemical analysis, and 

 obtained the following results : — 



The mechanical condition was excellent ; it formed a pul- 

 verulent mass of brown color, fit for immediate application. 



The chemical composition, as shown in the above analysis, 

 leaves no doubt about the question that the " dissolved Peru- 

 vian guano " can claim one of the foremost positions among 

 our commercial nitrogenous-phosphatic fertilizers. The article 

 sells at an advance of from $4 to $5 per ton above the ruling 

 price of raw guano. 



Fish Scraps and Fish Guano. 

 The manufacturers of menhaden oil and fish guano, of 

 Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Long 

 Island and New Jersey, have formed during the past year — 

 January 7, 1874 — an association for the promotion of their 

 mutual interests, called "The United States Menhaden Oil 

 and Guano Association." Their business has been increasing 

 as compared with the preceding year ; a fact which may be 

 noticed from the following recently-published record of the 

 association : — 



Barrels. 



Fish caught in 1874, 1,478,634 



in 1873, 1,193,100 



One barrel contains, on average, 250 fish. 



Tons. 



Amount of fish guano made in 1874, . . . 50,976 



in 1873, . . . 36,299 



Increase in 1874 over 1873, .... 14,677 



