NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



79 



For the New Eng-land Farmer. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH PERUVIAN GUA- 

 NO AND BARN COMPOST. 



Mr. Cole: — Having several years ago experi- 

 mented with Guano (of such quality as could then 

 be procured,) with results unfavorable to the article 

 as a fertilizer, it was with little faith, and that 

 founded principally upon the great reputation of 

 Peruvian Guano, that we undertook the following 

 experiments. 



The Guano employed on this occasion was ob- 

 tained directly from Peter Harmony Nephews, of 

 New York, Peruvian government agent for the 

 sale of it. We were thus satisfied of its genuine- 

 ness. The experiments were conducted with care, 

 and their results much surprised us. 



One part Peruvian Guano and three parts of dry 

 loam, constituted the Guano compost mentioned be- 

 low. 



FIRST EXPERIMENT. 



On the first of September, 1849, upon land in 

 good tilth, we sowed rye broadcast, (intended for 

 soiling in the Spring,) at the rate of three bushels 

 to the acre. The first of April following its ap- 

 pearance was unpromising and sickly, insomuch, 

 we feared it might prove a tailure. 



April 8th, 1850. — We applied to a portion of the 

 field, Guano compost, at the rate of three hundred 

 and twenty pounds of Guano, (value seven dollars) 

 to the acre. The ground was moist the snow hav- 

 ing just disappeared. In a few days the beneficial 

 effects of the Guano were manifest. Those por- 

 tions of the field to which it had been applied be- 

 coming greenest, tallest and thickest, which char- 

 acteristic they maintained to the end of the season. 



May 2Sth. — We cut green one square rod of 

 Guanoed rye and another square rod of unguanoed, 

 lying side by side, and weighed them carefully. 



Weight of Guanoed square rod, - 105 lbs. 



" Unguanoed, - - - 60 lbs. 



Eeturn for Guano applied, per rod, - 45 lbs. 



a gain of more than two-thirds. 



July 23d. — We reaped at maturity one square 

 rod of guanoed rye, and the same of unguanoed, 

 side by side, and weighed the bundles. 



Weight of Guanoed bundles, - - 44 lbs. 

 " Unguanoed, - - - 35 lbs. 



Gain for Guano, 



.,---- 9 lbs. 



In September, we threshed these bundles and 

 weighed the grain. 



Weight of Guanoed grain, - - 16 lbs. 

 " Unguanoed, - - 10 lbs. 



Gain in grains per rod, . - - 6 lbs. 



A gain of six pounds of grain in one rod, is equal 

 to sixteen bushels to the acre, calculating fift)'- 

 eight pounds to the bushel. Valuing rye at eighty 

 cents a bushel, these sixteen bushels are worth 

 twelve dollars and eighty cents. Valuing rye 

 straw at seven dollars a ton, the three pounds per 

 rod, (see diff"erence between six and nine in the 

 two tables above,) or four hundred and eighty 

 pounds per acre, are worth $1,50. Thus we have, 

 Value of 16 bushels of rye, - - $12,80. 

 " 480 pounds straw, - - $1,50. 



Return for seven dollars worth of Guano, §14,30 ^ 



SECOND EXPERIMENT. 



Tliis was made on grass. The land had not been 

 ploughed for many years, nor manured for three 

 years, but was moderately fertile. 



April 1st, 1850. — We applied the Guano com- 

 post to a portion of this grass, at the rate of three 

 hundred and twenty pounds of Guano (value seven 

 dollars) to the acre. Along side, at the same 

 time, we top dressed another portion with barn 

 compost (cow droppings and dry peat, equal parts, 

 well composted in the barn) in the proportion of 

 sixteen loads to the acre, valued $1,50 per load, 

 or twenty-four dollars for the sixteen loads. The 

 grass on the guanoed portion soon surpassed that 

 on the top dressed portion in verdure, became tallest 

 and thickest, and remained so until mowed. 



July Hth. — We mowed a square rod of each of 

 these portions, side by side, and on the IGth weighed 

 the products. They were only two-thirds dry, ow- 

 ing to wet weather. 



Weight of Guanoed rod, - - - 62 lbs. 

 " top dressed, - 42 lbs. 



Gain by Guano in one rod, - - 20 lbs. 



Nearly fifty per cent, greater yield per acre w"ith 

 seven dollars worth of Guano, than with twenty- 

 four dollars worth of barn compost. The aftermath 

 was also greenest and thickest on the guanoed por- 

 tion. 



THIRD EXPERIMENT. 



This was also made on grass. Land rather light 

 and dry. It had been stocked to grass four years, 

 and had not been manured for three years. 



April 1 Ith, 1850. — We applied Guano compost 

 (three hundred and twenty pounds, or seven dollars 

 woith of Guano to the acre,) during a light fall of 

 snow. 



July 16th. — Mowed two square rods side by side, 

 (one had been guanoed, to the other nothing had 

 been applied,) and weighed them green. 



60 lbs. 

 - 32 lbs. 



Weight of Guanoed rod, 



Unguanoed, 



28 lbs. 



Gain by Guano per rod, 



Nearly one hundred per cent, gain, aftermath green 

 and thick. 



FOURTH EXPERIMENT. 



Also on grass. A border of low meadow which 

 had been valueless, was ploughed in 1848, and 

 sowed down to grass the 1st of September, 1849. 

 Before sowing down, gravel had been scattered 

 upon the surface, and barn compost at the rate of 

 thirty loads to the acre, had been spread and har- 

 rowed in. 



April I2th, 1850. — Applied CJuano compcst, 

 (three hundred and twenty pounds of Guano to the 

 acre,) to a portion of this border. 



July 22d. — Mowed two square rods, side by side, 

 and weighed green grass moist with dew. 



Weight of Guanoed rod, 

 " Unguanoed, 



115 lbs. 

 02 lbs. 



Gain by Guano per rod, - - 53 lbs. 



Nearly one hundred per cent. The straw was fine 

 on the guanoed portion, and the aftermalh much 

 the heaviest, some of the herds grass coming to ma- 

 turitv a second time 



