Vol. G. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



10 



GUANO. 



We have received from the Hon. J. S. Sherman, 

 of Washington, a treatise on the use of this highly 

 fertilizing manure, with a great variety of well- 

 authenticated experiments, both in England and 

 America, by which it appears that 300 lbs. of Peru- 

 vian guano are equal in effect, to 30 loads of barn- 

 yard manure, when applied to the spring and sum- 

 mer crops, and equally valuable for the wheat crop, 

 and all the grasses. If its virtues are not over- 

 rated, (and from the high standing of the gentlemen) 

 who attest to it, as men of science and practical 

 knowledge, it would be almost iniidelity to doubt, 

 it almost realizes the prediction of one of the early 

 German philosophers, that the time would come 

 when " a farmer would carry the material to manure 

 an acre in his breeches pocket." This material con- 

 tains all the properties of the most valuable manure 

 hitherto known, in a highly concentrated state, par- 

 ticularly ammonia and the phosphate of lime. It is 

 the dung of sea-birds who subsist on fish, deposited 

 during a succession of ages coeval with their crea- 

 tion, in a climate where it never rains ; which by 

 heat and decomposition has become concentrated 

 into the richest of all conceivable manures. 



It is found in beds of 30 feet in depth, near the sea 

 shore, in Peru, and also in Africa. It is sold at the 

 rate of $3 per 100 lbs. at our sea ports, and by the 

 ton at about the rate of $2 75 per cwt. 



At the latest advices from Ichaboe, in Africa, 

 where guano has lately been discovered, there were 

 130 vessels lying at anchor, waiting their turns to 

 procure loads, and an English frigate stationed to 

 keep good order — so great is the demand and anxiety 

 to get this favorite manure. 



The Bird Islands, on the Labrador coast, on the 

 north of the gulf of the St. Lawrence, are a remark- 

 able instance of the gathering of the feathered tribe 

 for the purpose of incubation. On those islands, in 

 the early part of summer, the congregation of sea 

 fowl, of all kinds under heaven that are found on 

 this continent, is so immense as to darken the sky 

 when they rise, and the noise of their wings is like 

 the rushing of the whirlwind. Whole islands are 

 so thickly covered with their eggs, that it is impos- 

 sible to walk about without crushing them under 

 foot. The iishcrmen clear cfi' favorable spots, and 

 place dov.'n blanlcets and sails, and retire a few hours, 

 and they are covered with eg'gs ; they then are bro- 

 ken on boards slightly inclined, like the roof of a 

 shanty, and dried in the sun into a substance like 

 glue, for winter subsistence. Persons going on to 

 the islands with guns totally forget their use, as 

 ship-loads of birds, which are setting or laying, can 

 be killed with clubs — which is often done, merely for 

 their feathers and down. 



Why have not some of our adventurous and enter- 

 prising Yankees, whose sails whiten every ocean, 

 pushed their inquisitive genius for discoveries to 

 these islands in pursuit of guano 1 The only objec- 

 tion to its existence in that region that strikes us is, 

 the fact of the heavy shows and rains that climate is 

 liable to, which may decompose and wash away the 

 virtues of the excremental deposit. At any rate, if 

 we were " bobbing for whale" along the Grand Banks 

 and that quarter, we should go " a bird nesting" 

 along those diggings, wide awake for speculation. ? 



Tea Cake. — Take four cups of flour, three cups 

 of sugar, three eggs, one cap of butter, one of milk, 

 and one spoonfull of dissolved pearlash. 



MISTAKE CORRECTED, 



Philadclpliia, January 6, 1815. 

 Sir — ^The subscri}>tion to the Genesee Farmer 

 was paid years ago. You have no claim against me. 

 Please correct your fraudulent mode of keeping 

 books. I shall take the proper means to punish 

 yourmeretricious mode of making former patrons of 

 the Farmer pay postage unjustly. Your repeated 

 duns for money already paid are a nuisance. ■ 



SAM. C. ATKINSON. 



Remarks by the Publishers. This letter is one 

 of the many we have received during the month of 

 January, directed to the "Pubhshers of the Genesee 

 Farmer." Now we beg leave to say to Mr. Atkin- 

 son and all others that have received " repeated 

 duns" of this kind, that they are not sent by the 

 proprietors of the Farmri, or any one connected with 

 its publication. We understand these "duns" are 

 sent by Samuel Hamilton, of this city, who, it 

 would appear, is employing his leisure time, in thus 

 " fraudulently" duning the subscribers to the " Old 

 Genesse Faimer," published by Mr. Luther Tucker, 

 which was removed to Albany and united with the 

 " Cultivator," five years ago ! 



We make this explanation, to prevent the im- 

 pression, (otherwise unavoidable) that these duns 

 were sent by the present proprietrs of the " JVew 

 Genesee Farmer," and we would also remark that 

 they are not less unpleasant and annoying to us, 

 than to those to whom they are so unjustly sent. 



Ohio Cultivator, — Published at Columbus, 

 Ohio, by M. B. Bateham, late editor of this paper, 

 has just made its appearance, and is a neat and well- 

 executed affair. We marvel that he did not substi- 

 tute the octavo for the quarto form. He is behind 

 the light-house there. 



He feels well, and comes into the ring like one 

 confident of success ; and if pufTs and promises 

 (which we know him able to perform) augurs any- 

 thing, we think the suckers may be proud of their 

 acquisition. 1 



The "Prairie Farmer'' — Messrs. Wright k, 

 Wight, editors, Chicago. This publication is a 

 large quarto, 24 pages monthly, price ^l, and is 

 unique as an agricultural work. The editors are 

 knowing ivights, and generally on all subjects about 

 right ; while the cogitations of some of their cor- 

 respondents are a per+ect specific for the horrors. 

 Any of our readers who wish for the science of log 

 cabins, where the latch-string is always out — of thou- 

 sand acre farms without fences — plowing with four 

 yoke of oxen — fields without stumps — bacon hom- 

 iny and common doings — or white bread and chicken 

 fixings — let them read the Prairie Farmer. 



New Variety of Wheat. — The Cincinnati At- 

 las states, that several fanners in that vicinity have, 

 for a year or two past, cultivated a new variety of 

 wheat with great satisfaction. It was introduced 

 into Ohio from Alabama, in 1839. It takes the pre- 

 ference over all other wheat which comes to that 

 market, weighing from 64 to fiS lbs. to the bushel. 

 The yield has averaged 30 bushels to the acre the 

 present season. It matures early, having been har- 

 vested in that state on the 6th of' June. By-the-bye 

 this latter trait is a mr St desirable one, as it will 

 very materially tend to protect it from rust, one of 

 the most dire enemies of the wheat crop. — Jlgri. 



