No. 2. 



Experiments with Guano. 



43 



following to mix it with the soil. Not long 

 after tiie application of the guano, the corn 

 was attacked by that greatest of scourges, 

 the bud worm; eating into the centre of the 

 stalk, near the surlhce of the ground, and 

 the first and largest growth literally de- 

 stroyed ; so much of it as out-grew the in- 

 jury, was tor u long time dwindling and 

 weak. 



This experiment I consider a failure; for 

 at no time could any material ditlerence be 

 perceived in the growth of the corn, with 

 and without guano. A part of the field is 

 low or meadow land ; and has not suffered 

 materially from the drought ; here the corn 

 is heavy ; but whether attributable to the 

 guano, I know not: unfortunately, no rows 

 on this part were left without guano : and 

 therefore allow it to be a failure, which I 

 attribute to the contact of the guano with 

 the quick lime. For, on the lands appa- 

 rently similar and equally limed, though a 

 year and more preceding, there are nume- 

 rous experiments in the vicinity on corn 

 crops, where the eftects of the guano are 

 most decided ; both wlien sown broadcast 

 before planting, and applied to the hill. 



I have also applied guano on my melon 

 vines; a small handful to the hill, producing 

 the most luxuriant growth, both of vines and 

 fruit, as compared with the adjoining hills, 

 without any. It was applied a day or two 

 before planting the seed, and well chopped 

 in with the hoe — the hills were once water- 

 ed with a weak solution — the ground being 

 too dry to sprout the seed — by soaking three 

 guano bags in half a barrel of water. 



It may be observed as a general, if not 

 invariable rule, that if seed of many, if not 

 most kinds, come into immediate contact 

 with unadulterated guano, they fail to vege- 

 tate. In my experiments I carefully avoided 

 mixing the guano with plaster, ashes, or any 

 other substance; because, if the crop was 

 benefited, I wished to know with certainty 

 what to attribute it to. 



My letter has already extended to an un- 

 reasonable and unexpected length ; but I 

 shall, I hope, be excused for a few additional 

 remarks. 



The case of failure reported by John 

 Mackenzie in the Southern Planter, given 

 " for the benefit of the agricultural commu- 

 nity," will benefit many, I have no doubt. 

 I for one thank him for the commimication. 

 Presuming that it was the pure Peruvian 

 guano, his experiments as well as many 

 others, go to establish the fact, that by a 

 top-dressing on wheat in the spring, the 

 "money and labour expended on guano have 

 been entirely thrown away." In my case, 

 a different method of using it — and if I am 



not mistaken, both were of the same cargo, 

 the Orpheus — has produced results altoge- 

 ther satisfactory. 



I have heard of but one such successful 

 application; the case reported by our Sena- 

 tor, J. A. Pearce, of Chestertown. But 

 when applied as a top-dressing on wheat in 

 the full, so as to have the full benefit of the 

 winter rains, it has in some cases succeeded 

 well. Dr. Wm. B. Magruder, one of our 

 most enterprising and successful farmers 

 and planters, informed me yesterday, that 

 he believed his wheat crop was doubled by 

 200 lbs. of guano to the acre, applied soon 

 after the wheat came up. He has also used 

 it in his tobacco crop with evident advan- 

 tage, as he thinks — I saw the latter; and 

 although it looked well, I am no judge of 

 the crop, or quality, unlil manvfactured. I 

 have examined many of the experiments of 

 my neighbours, who joined our club in the 

 purchase of nineteen tons last spring; and 

 I expect every individual is so far pleased 

 with tlic results, that at least as much more, 

 — and some I know would double their pur- 

 chases, — would be used this fall, if the Pe- 

 ruvian guano — with which all our experi- 

 ments have been made — could be had at the 

 same price. 



The question has often been asked, how 

 much wheat my land would have produced 

 to the acre, without guano, — this question 

 cannot be answered with certainty; but to 

 judge by the crop of the same kind of wheat 

 on the adjoining field last season, and with- 

 out manure ; and also of crops under similar 

 circumstances of my neighbours this season, 

 I think 10 to 12 bushels a full estimate; 15 

 bushels at the outside. In their care not to 

 let the manure extend beyond its prescribed 

 limits, my hands did not spread it quite to 

 the guano; this left a strip through the field 

 without any manure; and I am confident 

 there was not one-third of the wheat on it ; 

 a space of 15 to 20 feet wide should have 

 been left. Dr. Dupuy asks, " if the drought 

 was as severe here, as generally through 

 the country!" I presume nearly so, or 

 quite. 



Our oats and hay are not more than half 

 crops; and if not relieved ere long by rain, 

 our corn crops will be still less. 



The spring was unusually dry, and the 

 wheat in experiment 1st, suffered in conse- 

 quence; yet the situation being lower, was 

 more in its favour than the manured part. 

 The ground bones had in all respects equal 

 advantages with the guano: in neither, does 

 any difference appear in the timothy and 

 clover; both are good. Estimating the 

 yield of the adjoining acre with ground 

 bones, by the dozen sheaves, and it cannot 



