204 



Guano. 



Vol. VIII. 



it up, and then, through the rows, well 

 watered the young plants over head. He 

 left some of the turnips unwatered, to prove 

 the effect of the experiment, and he observes 

 that he is unable to express his astonishment 

 at the vigorous growth of those supplied with 

 guano. The fly left them immediately, whilst 

 the remainder were half destroyed, and those 

 left were of weakly growth. Another gen- 

 tleman says, that, from our remarks, he had 

 been induced to make a cask of liquid ma- 

 nure, by putting four ounces of guano to 

 every gallon of water. Of this mixture he 

 put a pmt to every gallon of water, and ap- 

 plied it to his plants once a week. His 

 Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, Myrtles, in fact, 

 every plant to which he has applied it, have 

 flowered most exuberantly. At one of the 

 Cornwall Royal Horticultural Society's ex- 

 hibitions, Mr. W. E. Rendle, of Plymouth, 

 stated that, in his nursery, he had for some 

 time used guano, but he had fallen into the 

 common error of using it too freely, and he 

 found that it destroyed the plants; but ex- 

 perience had taught him that when used in 

 a liquid state, half an ounce to a gallon of 

 water, it formed a very valuable liquid ma- 

 nure. 



We have before us many statements from 

 practical men, on the application of guano, 

 to almost every description of produce, both 

 of the farm and garden; and in all insta,nces, 

 where it had been used discreetly, it has 

 proved the most valuable ingredient that 

 has hitherto been tried, as manure. From 

 our own experience, and that of numerous 

 agriculturists and horticulturists, v^ith whom 

 we have corresponded, we infer that the 

 practice of the Peruvians, in the use of 

 guano, has been duly founded on experience, 

 and is that which proves the moot beneficial; 

 we mean the applicatiou of it to the plant 

 when in a growing state, in preference to 

 its mixture with the earth before, or at the 

 time of, sowing the seed. Again, the Peru- 

 vians are correct in applying water unme- 

 diately after its application, v/itliout which 

 it cannot enter the earth, and be taken up 

 by the roots of the plant. Hence, the ad- 

 vantage of applying it in a liquid state, 

 when convenient, or in showery vv'eather. 

 Mixing it with other manures seems to be 

 unnecessary; but, for the convenience of 

 equal distribution, it may require mixing 

 with some pulverized ingredient, for which 

 purpose dry light earth of any sort will suf- 

 fice. 



In consequence of our account of guano 

 having been written and published at month- 

 ly intervals, it has assumed a somewhat de- 

 sultory form; these intervals have, however, 

 supplied much additional information, but 



which it would be useless to state here in 

 detail ; suffice it to say, we have seen, or 

 been informed of, its application to almost 

 every species of farm and garden crop, and 

 when properly applied, it has, in no instance, 

 failed to produce the most beneficial results. 

 The foregoing subject has been treated at 

 some length, on account of its more than 

 usual importance. We shall now sum up 

 the whole by giving practical deductions for 

 the guidance of those who may be induced 

 to use guano; recommending that in expe- 

 riments, a portion of each crop be left unma- 

 nured, that a proper comparison may be 

 made. 



1. Guano rapidly absorbs moisture, there- 

 fore attention should be paid to the state in 

 which it is observed to be when about to be 

 purchased ; or much water will be paid for. ■ 



2. It loses annnonia by exposure, there- 

 fore it should be kept in close boxes or 

 casks. 



3. As it is sometimes found in hard lumps, 

 it should be properly powdered before being 

 used. 



4. If guano be applied to the surface of 

 the soil, as a top dressing, its eflects will 

 not be developed, without rain or artificial 

 vvatering. 



5. It should not be sown in an unmixed 

 state, in immediate contact with seeds. By 

 drilling it in with seeds it has been found, 

 in some instances, to destroy them as soon 

 as germination commenced. 



6. It may be mixed for application, in a 

 dry state, with any convenient powdery sub- 

 stance, as sand, dry peat, dry loamy soil, 

 ashes, powdered charcoal, powdered gypsum, 

 malt-dust, &c., and in such state will be 

 more convenient for equal distribution. 



7. It should not be mixed with lime, nor 

 wood ashes, nor bones; if combined with 

 any of these, some decomposition would en- 

 sue, and a portion of its valuable properties 

 would be lost. 



8. Experience seems to indicate that gua- 

 no is the most beneficial when applied to 

 plants in a growing state, and as a top 

 dressing, whether in the powder, or a liquid 

 state. When used with potatoes, this rule 

 may, probably, not so strictly apply; but 

 here, the plant, whilst very young, has a 

 protected reservoir of nutriment of its own, 

 therefore the guano may be mixed with the 

 soil in contact with the potatoes planted. 



9. To the gardener we would say, keep a 

 small box of guano always at hand; you can 

 then sprinkle a little round a plant, stir the 

 soil, and water at once, by way of experi- 

 ment. Also, about a meat spoonful may be 

 put into a large watering pan of water, 

 stirred about for a few seconds, and used 



