SECRETARY'S REPORT. 89 



with great loss — mixing it with dry peat muck before applying 

 it, and covering the mixture with two or three inches of earth. 

 The only missing hills in the field were in the guano part ; the 

 growth of stalk was promoted, but the yield of corn not so 

 good as when compost was put in alone. In the year 1853 I 

 used it on corn with similar results. I should discard it for 

 corn or garden crops, feeling more safety and confidence in 

 good compost manure. On a section of the above-named field 

 superphosphate of lime was used, applied in the hill. It pro- 

 duced an early, marked growth of stock, but on harvesting I 

 have no better result than on any other section of the field ; the 

 land was light, and the dry weather prevented a fair test. I 

 shall try it again next year ; I have more confidence in it than 

 in guano, as it can be safely applied." 



A Norfolk farmer says : " When judiciously applied, guano 

 has resulted well, especially on mowing lands, doubling the 

 growth. In the cornfield I did not see a marked difference. 

 It was very favorable to oats and turnips." 



Another in Worcester county answers: "I have applied 

 guano this season without any visible effect. Others have been 

 more fortunate. In some instances the benefit to the corn 

 crop has been very perceptible, increasing it twenty or twenty- 

 five per cent. About twenty tons were used in town last 

 spring. From the best information I have obtained, I think for 

 a crop of corn it is more beneficial on light land or pine plain ; 

 for grass, on land rather low and moist. Others within my 

 knowledge have used it in successive years, and generally witli 

 less success the following years than the first. In one case 

 that came under my observation, the crop the second year was 

 an entire failure." 



From these returns, all of which come from experienced 

 practical men in various parts of the State, and from many 

 more like them which my present limits do not allow me to 

 give, we may deduce the following general principles : — 



I. That guano generally succeeds better on light, loamy lands 

 than on stiff, clayey soils. 



II. That it is not safe to use guano in the hill, unless it is 

 largely mixed with other substances, or intimately mingled 

 with the soil of the hill. 



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