80 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



FIFTH EXPERIMENT. 



This was made on Indian corn for soiling. Land 

 in good tilth. 



June (Sill, 1850. — We ploughed under the whole 

 field, barn compost at the rate of thirty loads to the 

 acre, and harrowed deep. 



June 8th. — Furrowed deep for planting corn in 

 drills. Into a portion of the burrows we dropped 

 barn compost at the rate of six loads to the acre, 

 (value nine dollars) ; we then dropped Southern corn 

 at the rate of iwo and half bushels to the acre and 

 covered. Into another portion of the furrows we 

 strewed Guano compost (three hundred and twenty 

 pounds of Guano per acre,) covered it lightly with 

 earth, then dropped Southern corn at same rate as 

 above, and covered. 



June IGth. — The guanoed rows w^ere well up, 

 the manured rows scarcely visible. During the 

 whole season the guanoed rows kept the lead and 

 excelled the manured rows in verdure, height and 

 size of stalks. Two heavy gales of wind in July 

 prostrated the whole field. The guanoed portions 

 were the most injured, and about the middle of 

 August befoie the stalks had attained their full size 

 ■we were obliged to cut them. We weighed, green, 

 a square rod of each of the rows, side by side. 



Weight of square rod of Guanoed rows, 450 lbs. 

 " Manured, - - - 365 lbs. 



Gain for Guano per rod, - - - 85 lbs. 



Several other similar experiments were made, 

 some of which showed even more surprisingly the 

 effects of Guano, but these are the only ones suffi- 

 ciently complete to publish. 



They all confirm the great reputation of Peruvi- 

 an Guano. The value of this substance compared 

 with other fertilizers cannot at present be deter- 

 mined, but it may be considered the cheapest in 

 use. 



President Fillmore, in his late message to Con- 

 gress, draws the attention of that body to the Pe- 

 ruvian Guano trade, as a subject of importance to 

 American Agriculture. 



The annual consumption in the United States, is 

 fifteen thousand tons, the demand principally for 

 the Middle States. Many worn out plantations in 

 that section have been made productive by Peruvian 

 Guano. 



Were this agent to be more extensively employed 

 in New England, it no doubt would yield abundant 

 returns, for it is peculiarly qualified to feitilize her 

 cold and exhausted soil. If Peruvian Guano has 

 failed, in some hands, it has arisen probably from 

 want of knowledge or care in the use of it. It is 

 also notorious that spurious and woithless articles 

 are sold for Peruvian Guano. 



Tliese experiments will be continued and their 

 results communicated to the public. 



JOSIAH IVEENE. 



North Providence, R. I., Feb., 1851. 



Remarks. — We have accounts of various results 

 from the use of Guano. In some cases it has been 

 highly profitable, in others it has produced no per- 

 ceptible effect. As suggested by our correspondent, 

 we havo no doubt that Guano has often been used 

 injudiciously, and frequently a spurious kind has 

 been obtained, for a great deal of Guano sold is 

 adulterated. In addition to these principal causes 



of failure, the season is sometimes unfavorable from 

 drought, and occasionally there is a want of adap- 

 tation of the manure to the soil and crop. 



We trust that some cultivators will persevere in 

 their experiments until the use of Guano is reduced 

 to a system, and its just value ascertained, for it 

 is highly desirable that we have our resources for 

 fertilizers enlarged, and that we have some manures 

 that can be had in abundance and are profitable so 

 as to be convenient in transportation and applica- 

 tion. We advise experimenters on Guano to be 

 particular, and note the exact results, as Mr. Keene 

 has done. Let us have something more than vague 

 guessing. — Ed. 



REDUCING THE POOD OF CATTLE 

 BEFORE GIVING IT. 



As I have just concluded the experiments you 

 wished, I hasten to forward you the results, which 

 are as follows: — Two horses in good health, in dai- 

 ly work, and as nearly as possible equal in size and 

 age, were selected for the experiment. They were 

 each allowed 5 lbs. of oats, 42 lbs. per bushel, and 

 a sufficiency of good hay, of which they consumed 

 about 17 lbs. per diem each horse. The only dif- 

 ference in the feeding consisted in one horse having 

 the oats thoroughly crushed, and the other being 

 allowed the oats uncrushed. On the fourth day 

 of the above mode of feeding, the solid excrements 

 of each horse were examined. 100 parts of the 

 dung from the horse fed on crushed oats were found 

 to be deprived of all the nutritious matter contained 

 in the food, and to consist of woody fibre, mixed 

 with the animal secretions and some salts; while 

 100 parts of the dung from the horse fed on un- 

 ci ushed oats, were found to contain 1-4 per cent, 

 of nutritive matter, consisting of starch and gluten, 

 which had not been acted on by the stomach, 

 mixed with the ordinary constituents of the solid 

 excrements of the animal — this arising from the 

 inability of the horse to perform perfect mastica- 

 tion, and must vary with circumstances, such as 

 age and rapidity of feeding. The same horses 

 were then fed with cut and uncut food, consisting 

 ofhay cut into chaff, and hay uncut. At the ex- 

 piration of the third day, the excrements were ex- 

 amined, but no chemical difference in their compo- 

 sition was detected; the food, in both instances 

 was found to be equally exhausted of its nutritive 

 matter. The shorter period occupied by the horse 

 in filling its stomach, and consequently greater 

 amount of rest obtained, and the means of mixing 

 food and preventing waste by cutting it into chaff, 

 requires no observation from me, but will be ma- 

 terial points in this mode of feeding. 



A. Gyde. 



American Yellow Bird. — This bird is very 

 common in the middle States, and ])artakes much 

 of the nature of the Canary. If placed near a 

 Canary they will acquire many of their notes. It 

 should be an old established singing Canary, other- 

 wise they will take the Yellow-bird's song to the 

 detriment of his own. They should be fed with 

 yellow and hempseed; two thirds of the former. 

 A leaf of lettuce, cabbage, or a piece of apple is 

 of service. 



