188 



Guano. — Wheat. 



Vol. VIII. 



retain — to fix, as it is called, are the very 

 essence of manures, and that which, more 

 than any thing else, is required for the luxu- 

 riant growth of agricultural crops. 



As guano is found spread over an immense 

 extent of country, it is likely that it will 

 vary much in quality, from a circumstance 

 already mentioned — that of deterioration by 

 washing. It is found beyond the boundaries 

 of those extremely dry districts, in which 

 rain is almost unknown ; and, when brought 

 to us from a humid and wet climate, it will 

 be greatly weakened in its effects. It is 

 also found on low rocks and promontories on 

 the American coast, where sand may drill 

 over it, and be mixed with the genuine ma- 

 nure. These circumstances demand the at- 

 tention of the purchaser. 



We shall forbear to enter on the chemical 

 analysis of guano ; it is more our province 

 to show its effects, and to inform our readers 

 how it may be most efficiently employed in 

 horticulture. We have, in progress, various 

 experiments to assist in proving its value; 

 and, as far as these have gone, they have, 

 in general, been most satisfactory. We 

 have already proved that it may be used too 

 freely, and that injury may thereby be pro- 

 duced. In a liquid state, four ounces to a 

 gallon of water, applied twice a week, for 

 three weeks, to beds of strawberries, it has 

 occasioned an amazing growth of foliage 

 and blossoms, but its influence on the crop 

 of fruit remains to be seen. On the other 

 hand, a bed of seedling alpine strawberry 

 plants, which had been up about a month, 

 was thinly sprinkled with unmixed guano in 

 powder, and it destroyed every plant where 

 it was applied. The half of a bed of onions, 

 which were six inches high, were sprinkled 

 over, a month ago, with pure guano, at the 

 rate of two ounces to every square yard, 

 being upwards of five cwt. to the acre; the 

 season has been rainy, and the onions, treated 

 with guano, are double the size of those not 

 so treated. Potatoes, which were six inches 

 high, had guano sprinkled along the rows, 

 amongst their stems, at the rate of an ounce 

 and a half to every yard ; and these are now 

 (five weeks subsequently) far superior to 

 those in parts of the rows purposely left 

 without guano. Nine parts of light soil 

 were mixed with one of guano, and half a 

 spadeful of the compost was put into each 

 of the holes regularly made to receive it, in 

 a prepared bed of light soil ; in the midst of 

 the compost, in each hole, a plant of Brussels 

 sprouts was put, and then well watered. 

 This was done a month ago, and, at the pre- 

 sent time, more than half the plants have 

 dwindled and died. Geraniums were wa- 

 tered, at intervals of a week, five times only 



in the whole^ with guano water, four ounces 

 to the gallon of water; their leaves then 

 began to curl, and, although the use of the 

 liquid guano has been discontinued two 

 montlis, it is unlikely that the plants will 

 recover till they are potted in fresh soil. 

 Plants, of various sorts, in pots, watered only 

 with guano water, half an ounce to a gallon, 

 have flourished astonishingly — none have 

 failed. These are lessons which cannot be 

 mistaken. 



In a pamphlet by Cuthbert W. Johnson, 

 Esq., on Guano as a Fertilizer, which may 

 be referred to by those who are interested 

 in the inquiry, we observe a communication 

 from Henry Bland, Esq., of Liverpool, a late 

 resident of Peru, in which is described the 

 method of using this manure in that country. 

 The practice is, doubtless, founded on expe- 

 rience, and indicates the propriety of apply- 

 ing it sparingly to young plants, and in- 

 creasing the quantity in proportion to their 

 strength. In allusion to the cultivation of 

 maize, or Indian corn, Mr. Bland says, 

 "When the plants are six or eight inches 

 above ground, a pinch of guano, as much as 

 can be easily held between the thumb and 

 two fingers, is placed around each bunch, 

 and the whole is usually irrigated immedi- 

 ately afterwards. Guano is again applied 

 when the plant is about throwing out its 

 fruits; a handful is then applied to each 

 bunch, and irrigation immediately follows. 

 The next succeeding crops, potatoes and 

 wheat, are produced without any further 

 application of manure." 



(To be continued.) 

 For the Fanners' Cabinet. 



Wheat. 



Mr. Editor, — The following portion of 

 your extract from the Albany Argus, which 

 appeared in this month's Cabinet, in regard 

 to the influence of weather on wheat, is not 

 in accordance wifh my small experience. It 

 runs thus: — "We have known wheat to 

 ripen on the Western prairies, in such 

 cloudy weather as would, in the Eastern 

 States, on our thin and comparatively impo- 

 verished soil, give no fulhiess to the berry — 

 the exceeding richness and natural warmth 

 of the Western soil, in a measure supplying 

 the absence of a warm and ripening sun." 



In the first place, we might assert, that 

 our " thin and impoverished soil" gave as 

 large return in wheat for many years after 

 the country was first settled, as any of the 

 " exceeding rich soils" of the far West. 

 And it is but a few years since the western 

 portion of New York was currently reported 

 as having an inexhaustible soil for the pro- 

 duction of this valuable grain. 



