VIRTUE IN FISH GUANO. 279 



tiou with Professor W. O. Atwater, director of the Con- 

 necticut Experimental Station at Middletown, has convinced 

 me that they express fairly the ruling market values, not only 

 of Massachusetts, but also of the adjoining States, during the 

 past years. 



Fish and Fish Guano. 



The following statement regarding the condition of the fish 

 fertilizer trade has been kindly furnished by H. L. Dudley, 

 Esq. , Secretary of the United States Menhaden Oil and Guano 

 Association : " The total amount of fish guano made in the 

 season of 1876 was 54,650 tons. This represents the crude 

 fish scrap ; but a larger proportion was dried than in any 

 previous season. The demand from manufacturers and con- 

 sumers each year is increasing for dried material. The 

 amount of scrap now on hand is 4,275 tons, not including 

 about 3,000 tons in Maine, which is being dried for export." 



It is gratifying to learn from this communication that the 

 consumption of fish refuse is rather increasing than decreasing 

 as compared with previous years. As a nitrogenous phos- 

 phate, it is second to none of our home-made fertilizers, if 

 properly applied. The only objection which can be raised 

 agaiust its use, in many instances, still is due to its inferior 

 mechanical condition and its varying state of moisture. 

 Farmers ought to buy none but those articles which are guar- 

 anteed to contain a specified amount of nitrogen and phos- 

 phoric acid, and are well ground. 



Charles A. Goessmann, 



State Inspector of Commercial Fertilizers. 



Amherst, Mass., February 1, 1877. 



