184 



PERUVIAN UUANO. 



was found thirty feet below the surface of the earth, 

 near Dorchester, in England. He had been buried 

 with some coins of the-Emperor Hadrian, and it is, 

 therefore, probable that the seeds were 1000 or 1700 

 years old. A new kind of Pea has lately been grown 

 in England from seeds found with a mummy, in 

 Egypt, where they had been entombed perhaps thou- 

 sands of years. There is no doubt but that tlie seeds 

 of Lithospermum arvense will, under favorable cir- 

 cunistani-es, retain their vitality without germination 

 during many years. Seeds, to germinate easily, must 

 be near the surface. Tliis is an established law of 

 nature adapted to the circumstances in which most 

 seeds are placed that grow upon the surface of the 

 globe. They grow, ripen, and fall to the ground to 

 be washed into the soil by rains, or commence germi- 

 nating at the surface and send their roots into the 

 ground. Therefore, to eradicate Pigeon Weed, we 

 would recommend, if the ground be wet, or sufEc- 

 ieutly moist, to have it thoroughly gone over with a 

 sharp toothed harrow, early in the fall, succeeding the 

 wheat harvest. That is generally a busy time with 

 farmers, and the harrowing could be done much 

 easier than a shallow plowing. Besides, if the busi- 

 ness is well done, the seeds will be covered to the 

 depth which nature requires, and hence they will 

 germinate, and can easily be destroyed by plowing 

 the ground for a crop in the spring. If plowing be 

 done in the fall to cause the seeds to germinate, it 

 should be as shallow as possible, not to exceed two 

 or three inches in depth, and then the ground should 

 be immediately harrowed. This will be very effectu- 

 al, and by plowing the ground in the spring, the weed 

 will be killed. Another excellent method is to plant 

 the wheat stubble the succeeding spring with corn, 

 well manured, and then sow with barley the next 

 spring. We hare remarked that the Lithospermum, 

 if there be any ssed in the ground, generally germi- 

 nates in the fall or corn stubble. By this course, if 

 the manure contain any seeds, they will also be des- 

 troyed by the succeeding spring's plowing for barley. 

 If our farmers will practice the above methods, and 

 be careful to have clean seed wheat, they will soon 

 rid themselves of this great pest to the wheat crop. — 

 S. B. BucMey, m (he Mbavy Cnllivator. 



PERDTIAN GUAMO. 



CONTEMPLATED 'CRANGE IN THE PERUWAN AGENCY — 

 INTENDED REDUCTION OP PRICES — A NEW SYSTEM. 



We are enabled to impart some information 

 upon this subject, which, until now, has been known 

 only to a very few. It is a matter of deep impor- 

 tance to the agricultural intere.sts of our entire 

 country, and of no ordinary moment to many por- 

 tions of the world. 



During the last session of Congrsss some effort 

 was made to have a bill passed imposing a slight 

 tax upon Peruvian guano imported into tliis country 

 or to ha\e the price reduced, in order that consu- 

 mers might thereby be benefited. The matter, 

 however, was laid aside, through certain influences. 

 It would now seem from information in our pos- 

 session, that any further effort of this kind will be 

 rendered unnecessary, as the newly-estabUshed Pe- 



ruvian Government contemplates making a radical 

 change, not only in its American agency, but in 

 the mode and manner of conducting the whole 

 business, promising more congeniality to the wants, 

 circumstances and wishes of consumers. 



We are pleased also to state, upon indisputable 

 authority, that the price of Peruvian guano, under 

 the contemplated new auspices, will, ere long, be 

 reduced to forty-five dollars per ton. The Peru- 

 vian authorities have discovered serious frauds 

 practiced from time to time by speeulators in her 

 guano, calculated to bring it into disrepute, as 

 well as to deceive those who purchased and used 

 the article. They ascertained that mixtures or 

 compounds of spurious and damaged guano had 

 been sold repeatedly for the genuine, causing de- 

 ception and injury to producer, buyer and seller. 



For these causes and others, desiring also to deal 

 fairly and acceptably with the American people, and 

 to prevent future similar impositions, Peru has deter- 

 mined to require that all damaged, unmerchantable 

 or adulterated guano shall be sold at public auction, 

 through her accredited agents, to consumers alone. 

 The contemplated new agency, or modus operandi, 

 will consist of a chief agent for the United States, 

 who, we learn, has already been designated, with , 

 power to appoint numerous subordinate agents and 

 agencies, at all important points — these agents to be 

 native American citizens — and by them, are the 

 entire details of business to be transacted. Sales in 

 all cases made directly to consumers. 



When this system goes into effect, any guano 

 ofi'ered or sold as Peruvian by persons not belong- 

 ing to, or connected with the legitimate agency, 

 will be pronounced spurious, and easy of detection. 

 Thug it will be convenient at all times to obtain, 

 with perfect conlidence, the approved, genuine article. 

 We have considered it proper at the present time 

 to acquaiut our readers and the public with the facts 

 herein alluded to, as tho.se most interested may even- 

 tually, and at no very distant period become partici- 

 pators in the advantages. It is further understood, 

 that the Peruvian government will employ skilled and 

 competent chemical agriculturists, whose duty it shall 

 be to analyze all guano imported into the various 

 States. 



These scientific experiments, with such practical 

 information as may be obtained, are to be published 

 in pamphlet form to the extent of one hundred thou- 

 sand copies, or more, if necessary, and distributed by 

 the various agencies, gratuitously among farmers, and 

 all others interested in the article. This, we are con- 

 fident, will be productive of much good, and enable 

 consumers more fully and effectually to appreciate 

 the great fertilizer, adapting it to their lands, &c., to 

 the best advantage. 



In view, therefore, of this contemplated new regu- 

 lation in guano, which, we learn, will probably go 

 into effect before long, it nu'ght be well for consumers 

 to give the subject their attention. If a better, 

 cheaper article can be had, and in time to suit all 

 purposes, it becomes an oVjject of economy to wait 

 Baltimore Patriot. 



Every one praises the rose while it gives pleasant 

 odor. 



