182 GUANO. 



further supply has been made ready from the stall- 

 manure, and they can consequently take on from 

 the first a more vigorous and rapid growth. In this 

 way, then, the farmer rears a vigorous seed plant. 



Another advantage, besides, is, that unfavorable 

 weather or climatic influences are less injurious in 

 their action upon such germinating plants ; for it is 

 a natural inference that a vigorous plant should 

 suffer less from these circumstances, than one which 

 is feeble. Saxon farmers, moreover, like the English, 

 have repeatedly observed that germinating seeds, 

 when manured with guano, are less obnoxious than 

 others to attack from worms and insects. Potatoes 

 so manured are seldom attacked by worms, and 

 in like manner fields that were manured during the 

 preceding autumn with guano suffered but slightly 

 from slugs, whilst other fields were greatly devas- 

 tated by these vermin.* 



Whether, in this mode of using bird-manure, it is 

 introduced into the ground at the same time with 

 the stall-manure, or at seed-time, or, again, is scat- 

 tered over the already germinating plant, is a matter 

 of comparative indifference, provided only it arrives 

 in sufficient time for plants to make free use of 

 it, particularly during their early growth. 



* I have tried most of the insect pests of the garden with guano- 

 water of various strengths. A strong infusion kills all of them, 

 — weaker solutions produce various effects. A fair experiment with 

 the Curculio in the early spring, for want of opportunity, has not been 

 tried. It is recommended to the attention of those who suffer from 

 this ravager of plums^. — J. E. T. 



