354 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



islands are located about 300 miles north from the Chincha 

 Islands. The amount of guano upon the Guanape Islands and 

 a few localities in their vicinity, is stated to be equal to about 

 five millions of tons, which, at the present annual rate of 

 exportation, would be exhausted within ten years. The man- 

 ufiicture of efficient substitutes for Peruvian guano becomes 

 thus daily more desirable. The following analyses may con- 

 vey some more definite idea regarding the composition of 

 both the Chincha and the Guanape guano : — 



The analysis No. II. refers to a Guanape guano lately sold in 

 our vicinity at $80 per 2,000 pounds. A calculation of this sam- 

 ple, according to prices recognized in our retail trade in artificial 

 fertilizers, shows a value of $92.78 per ton of 2,000 pounds ; 

 or, in other words, in case we should buy the same amount of 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid in a corresponding condition in 

 the shape of most of our ordinary fertilizers, we would have 

 to pay for such an article per 2,000 pounds, $92.78. A good 

 average sample of Guanape guano furnishes us, therefore, 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid at about $10 to $12 cheaper than 

 most of our home-made fertilizers. However, inferior samples 

 of Peruvian guano are by no means of a very rare occurrence. 

 A very strong illustration in that dh-ection has been furnished 

 of late by an investigation regarding the quality sold in New 

 York City. The examination was made at the request of the 

 New York State Agricultural Society, and the sales carried 

 on by two of its officers. Eleven bags of Peruvian guano 

 were bought of as many dealers, and the samples tested by 

 Mr. Habirshaw, the chemist of the New York Board of Trade. 

 The composition of these samples varied from nitrogen 3.74 

 per cent, and phosphoric acid 6.04 per cent., to nitrogen 



* As genuine Chincha guano is very scarce in the market, this analysis is taken from a 

 former rcjport of Professor 8. W. Johnson. 



