of Rockland, New York, steeps bis seed in the 

 liquid Guano, and finds it to be an admirable 

 emetic for the crows — the best scare-crow 

 extant." — a rather odd application oi bird-dinig. 



Mr. Tescheniacher of Boston, a man both of 

 scientific and practical knowledge, holds the 

 following language on the subject : " I confess 

 I am surprised to hear of so many failures — all 

 which I have been able to investigate arise from 

 error in application. In no soil but a stiff clay 

 can it fail to produce its efTects ; in no soil but 

 one amply provided already with phosphate of 

 lime can its effects fail to be permanent." (Vide 

 Mon. Jour. Agr., p. I.jO.) 



I have received from gentlemen of this coun- 

 ty some information as to their use of Guano. 

 Capt. H. Lockett, having mixed it with ashes in 

 the ratio of one measure to seven, applied the 

 mixture to a portion of tobacco, at the same time 

 applying wood-ashes to another portion. He 

 observed no difference between the effects of 

 the mixture and those of the a.shes alone. In 

 both instances the crop was more thriving than 

 on the laud not manured. 



J. J. Williamson, Esq., used it for wheat and 

 tobacco. For tobacco, not more than a tea- 

 spoonful to the hill ; the crop was as good as 

 that on much stronger laud. Wheat, top-dressed, 

 became green, but the crop was not thought to 

 be larger. 



Alexander Jones, Esq., used a mixture of 8 

 lbs. of Guano, to a half bushel of wood ashes and 

 applied it to a. patch of tobacco plants 10 by 16. 

 It killed them outright. With v^heat it was more 

 tolerable 



These gentlemen agree in the opinion that 

 the severe drouth of last year seriously inter- 

 fered in their experiments with Guano.* 



Such is the sum of our information on the use 

 of this manui-e in Great Britain and this coun- 

 try. One or two obvious remarks present them- 

 selves. 



1. It is doubtful according to the testimony 

 presented above, whether G*ano can be used 

 profitably in the United States. Future experi- 

 ments must determine the question. 



2. Considering the beneficial effects of Guano 

 in England and the conflicting accounts as to its 

 use in this country during the unu.sually diy sea- 

 son of 1845., it should seem that agriculturists 

 ought to be encouraged to give the manure a 

 fair and full trial the present year. No manure 

 untried before and elsewhere beneficial can be 

 prudently discarded by the American farmer, 

 because it was not able to contend succes.sfuliy 

 with the drouth of the past season. 



.3. ^Vhatever other conclusion may be drawn 

 from the results we have brought together, it is 

 obvious that Engli.sh fanners have attained to 



* The Guano they U9ed was of the same lot with 

 that I received from Dr. Jones. 

 99^) 



greater precision and skill than the American in 

 conducting agricultural experiments. We .shall, 

 therefore, close this essay with a few suggestions 

 respecting such experiments. 



1. The object of the experiments .should be to 

 test the comparative value of different 7nanures 

 as to specifc crops. Statements of a general in- 

 definite nature are of little value. Precision is 

 as important as correctness. 



2d. The (juantity of land manured in each 

 case should be measured ; the kind, cost and 

 amount of each manure, and the time and man- 

 ner of its application .should be given; the crop, 

 when mature, should be carefully gathered, 

 weighed, or measured ; and the relative cost of 

 the manures per 100 lbs. or bushel should be 

 precisely ascertained. 



Tables 1 and 2 are well constructed and may 

 be safely imitated by all who wish to obtain and 

 publish accurate infonnatiou. In all instances 

 an equal portion of unmanured land should be 

 cultivated. 



3d. If scientific men could be employed, the 

 land, the manures and the crops should be ana- 

 lyzed. While this cannot be expected in but 

 few instances, it should be attempted wherever 

 it is practicable ; and the result must be highly 

 creditable both to American science and Ameri- 

 can husbandry. 



4th. Every agricultural club and association 

 should have in vie w at all seasons of the year some 

 well-defined specific objects to be accomplished. 

 The subjects requiring the attention of the intel- 

 ligent farmer are numerous and interesting; 

 and no season should be permitted to arrive 

 without bringing the results of some well-con- 

 ducted skillful experiment. 



Ifthe.se plain and obviou.sly con-eet rules had 

 been observed the past year in the the experi- 

 ments with Guano, instead of loose statements 

 and indefinite opinions, American husbandry 

 would have jjrcsented to the world a mass of 

 well authenticated facts and precise agricultural 

 statistics. May another year be crowned with 

 a richer harvest of agricultural knowledge aud 

 more abundant stores of agricultural products. 

 J. \V. HARDY. 

 Randolph. Macon College, \'a., Feb. 15, 1846. 



Note. — Imperial, Scotch and various other acres 

 are refeired to in agricultural works. 



The English acre, as established by statute in the 

 reign of Henry VIII, is the same with the American 

 acre, and contains 4,840 square yards. With this we 

 compare others. 



English acre 4.840 square yards. 



Scotch, do 6,1.50V do. do. 



Irish, do 7,84U do. do. 



French, (arpent) acre.. 6,050 do. do. 



Welch acre 9,680 do. do. 



Stattbrdshire acre 10,240 do. do. 



In other counties of England more than 15.000 



