No. 9. American Ag. Association of JV. Y. — Report on Guano. 



275 



and has never been known to change its 

 feathers." 



A friend living on Staten Island, and who 

 has been pretty successful in the manage 

 ment of poultry, informed me that from 55 

 hens and 7 ducks, he obtained in the months 

 of January, 1842, 182 eggs — in February, 

 324— March, 792— April, 878— May, 915— 

 June, 746— July, 534— August, 650— Sep 

 tember, 346 — October, 68 — November, 5— 

 December, 69 — making in all for the year 

 5,509. Allowing the seven ducks to have 

 laid 70 eggs each, would leave 5,019, which 

 divided by 55, gives an average of 91 eggs 

 to each hen. These hens were fed from six 

 to eight quarts of cracked corn per day, and 

 occasionally a few boiled potatoes. Averag- 

 ing the feed at seven quarts per day, we 

 have within a fraction of 80 bushels of corn, 

 which at 50 cents per bushel, amounts to 

 $40, and allowing the eggs to be worth $1 

 per 100, we have $55 09, from which deduct 

 $40 for food, and we have a profit of only 

 $15 00, besides 60 chickens, which, at 15 

 cents each, would swell the profits up to 

 S24 09. He gives the preference, for eggs, 

 to the silver top-knots and French hens. 



Another friend who resides in a neigh- 

 bouring city, and keeps between 30 and 40 

 hens, informed me that, in 1841, he obtained 

 eggs from his hens throughout the year; 

 that is, there was not a single day in which 

 he did not obtain some. This he accounted 

 for by having very early chickens, as when 

 the old hens ceased laying to moult, the 

 young pullets commenced. In 1842, he 

 kept between 25 and 30 hens, and obtained 

 2,832 eggs. This, it will be seen, gives a 

 fraction over 94 eggs to each hen, which is 

 nearly double the number we obtained from 

 our hens. His yard is completely protected 

 by high fences and buildings on the north 

 and west, and receiving the full influence 

 of the sun from the south. He has low 

 sheds around the yard to protect them from 

 storms in the day, and a warm room in the 

 loft of his wood-house, which is lathed and 

 plastered, to protect them from vermin, and 

 keep them warm in cold weather. 



Communicated for the Farmers' Cabinet. 



American Agricultural Association of 

 NeAV York— Report on Guauo. 



"Resolved, That the Association cause 

 an analysis to be made of the cargoes of 

 guano from Ichaboe and Peru, now in the 

 market for the use of members and all per- 

 sons in the neighbourhood; and that a report 

 be drawn up with the analysis, containing 

 Euegestions for the application of the ma- 

 nure ; the whole to be publislied as early as 



100.00 



Ichaboe Guano. — The specimen was ob- 

 tained from Mr. Irvine, Front street, and is a 

 fair sample. 



practicable, in the agricultural papers of this 

 city and vicinity." 



Peruvian Guano. — The specimen was ob- 

 tained from Mr. Allen, 205 Broadway, who 

 is an agent for the sale of it. 



100.00 



Prices and relative value of the Peruvian 

 and African Guano. — These specimens are 

 both very fair, and represent the peculiari- 

 ties of the two kinds of guano. The ab- 

 sence of uric acid in the African variety, is 

 the cause of its inferiority; for that body 

 decaying gradually in the soil, continues to 

 yield carbonate of ammonia for a long time, 

 so that the stimulating eflects of the guano 

 are seen the next year, while the African 

 is more fleeting. The prices of the two 

 are, for Peruvian $45, and for African $35 

 per ton, for quantities amounting to five 

 tons ; and this may be considered, all things 

 being taken into the account, a fair repre- 

 sentation of their value in agriculture. 



The x'\frican being soluble to the extent 

 of 40 per cent, is better adapted for water- 

 ing plants, and where very rapid growth is 

 wanted. The Peruvian, on the othe^ hand, 

 acts for a longer time, and is better calcu- 

 lated for crops vi'hich continue to grow vig- 

 orously during many weeks. The two will 

 probably produce very similar effects for one 

 crop; but the Peruvian is much more active 

 on the second crop. 



Crops to which it is apjdied. — It is hardly 

 necessary to state, that the application may 

 be made to every crop, for experiments are 

 already multiplied with nearly every com- 



