• THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



557 



larjicly iil Guiilon Park, in Norfolk, was induced I 

 lo "try it on Ins land, lie applied li)ur Inisliclt;, j 

 about 200 lbs. weight, to a statute acre ; and on ' 

 the same field aionir^ide on an equal quanlily ol 

 land, applied 15 bushels oT bone dust. Both were 

 drilled into frround with ihe seed wheat ; the 

 fiuano iiave li (irs., 2 bush., l.\ peck; the bone 

 dust, 4.\ (jrs. ol wheat. 



I mi-iiu multiply exanjples, but the diffusion of 

 knowledge on these subjects is now so general, 

 and so n)any able lectures are given by which the 

 virtues ol' this substance must be noticed and 

 made known, that I prefer leaving their promul- 

 gation in abler hands than mine ; and il' all who 

 come forward to aid the advancement of agricul- 

 tural improvement, bring to the task the practical 

 and scientific skill of Professor Johnston, of Dur- 

 ham, with the simplicity of composition which 

 makes the study of his lectures so pleasing, the 

 attainment of a perfect system of liirming is | 

 nearer than might be reasonably looked lor or; 

 supposed. i 



The system o( its use is easily explained and 

 adopted. It is in appearance a dry powder, and 

 its weight is about 52 lbs. to the bushel. Four 

 bushels mixed with one bushel of powdered 

 (wood) charcoal, form the supply for one acre. 

 The charcoal has the power of holding ammonia 

 in its pores, and it has been found that the mixing 

 and applying it with guano, has rendered the 

 second year's crop almost as abundant as the 

 first. 



1 would recommend it to be applied by different 

 means to the earth. By drill with the seed, as 

 shown in Mr. Smith's experiment, and from 

 which such a favorable return was obtained ; and 

 also broadcast over the land, being afterwards 

 lightly ploughed or harrowed in. 



It should be remembered, that its diffusion 

 amongst the earth round the roots of plants, is 

 the object to be attained. Its composition, I re- 

 peat, is of that nature which must, under any 

 circumstances, do good ; and the trials of diffe- 

 rent modes of using it, will soon establish the one 

 to be preferred. 



For wheat, the experiment of Mr. Smith is a 

 type of its action. On clover, turnips, barley, 

 oats, and hops especially, it is, if any thing, more 

 evident still; while to form a judgment from the 

 past, the book lately published by the German 

 chemist, Liebig, and which contains a beautiful 

 exposition of the principles of vegetable existence, 

 says: — "^ smalt quantity of guano tmll, on the 

 barren shores of Peru, produce an abundant crop 

 of maize.^'' On those barren shores, it has been 

 used from time immemorial. 



The day is near at hand, when if '' sufficient 

 manure Jor an acre be not carried in a toaistcoat 

 pocket,'''' which was the prophecy of a clever wri- 

 ter some years back, at least its concentration 

 ■will be better understood, and the application ol 

 particular food to particular plants (which when 

 correctly understood and practised, is the founda- 

 tion of successful farming) will soon be appreci- 

 ated as reasonable in theory, and found on trial 

 to be correct in practice. 



And for the prosecution of improvement, how 

 advantageous is the position ofihe farmer. Pesti- 

 lence may sweep over the land, wars may ravage 

 it, fire may consume, but from each calamity o( 

 man, as from every blessing he enjoys, there spring 



new causes to excite his gratitude ; and in thede- 

 siruclion of the vilest herb atourfi-et, as in the 

 linirering decay of objects the most l)eautiful, and 

 which we mourn lo wilnes?!, we shall find but the 

 chauixe of condition necessary loreiurn their nou- 

 rishment lo the earth, that, in its turn, il may 

 bruiif forth fresti food for the liviiiir creatures that 

 are upon it; and from the enterprisinjr spirit of the 

 Hriiish merchant, anil the knowledge wh ch makes 

 il available as well to his lellow countryman as to 

 himself, the farmer will obtain all tfie assistance 

 he can require. I might cite many proofs, but 

 that ihe.goano, which is more immediately con- 

 nected with these observations, affords the sirona- 

 esl evidence of the fact. When we consider tliat 

 the great body of the English agriculturists were 

 ignorant even of its existence — that it was the 

 opening of a new trade — under circumstances of 

 at, least some doubt and risk, the greatest credit is 

 due to the Messrs. Myers, by whose exertions, 

 and through whose instrumentality, this new and 

 valuable auxiliary has been obtained. From the 

 union thus efl'ecied between commerce and agri- 

 culture, there cannot fail to spring the happiest 

 results, and at this particular juncture more espe- 

 cially, such partnership of advantage will be of 

 use. 



It is a circumstance most gratifying to me, that 

 being the first lo introduce the nitrate of soda 

 among the farmers of England, the guano should 

 likewf-e pass through my hands. I believe it 

 will be found of great benefit, and it will lead 

 those who use it to refiect upon the condition and 

 composition of matter, when they will find that 

 there is scarcely a substance which the eye can 

 rest on thai is not available to their use. That 

 such inquiry may arise should be the earnest 

 wish of all who would maintain the happiness, 

 and preserve the high standing of their country. 

 A. Macdonai.d. 

 3, St. Mildred's Court, July 30. 



Analysis of guano — 100 parts. 

 Bone earth . - . . .30^ 



Sulphates and muriates - - 3 



Liihic acid - - - - 15 



Ammonia - - - - 15 



Other orijanic matter - - 36A 



100.0 



OBJECTIONS TO THE OAT AND TOBACCO 

 ROTATION. 



To tlie Editor of tlie Farmers' Register. 



September 11, 1841. 



A communication in the May number ol' your 

 journal, over the initials H. M., in which I recog- 

 nize an old and esteemed friend, recommends a 

 system of tobacco after oats under a two-field ro- 

 tation. Taking this, together with a former essay 

 from the same excellent pen, I perceive that H. 

 M.'s opinions are based upon the practice of one 

 of the most intelligent and successful agricultu- 

 rists in Virginia, VVm. Old, esq. But with this 

 accumulated weight of just claim to high and in- 

 disputable pretension opposed to me, I must never- 

 theless be permitted to dissent to the system. 



II. M. tells you, as I understand him, that in 

 entering on this course, il is important to the 

 judicious application of labor in the tobacco crop. 



