GUANO. 185 



Besides this, guano has proved extremely advan- 

 tageous and profitable in its fertilizing influence 

 upon the growth of green crops^ roots, and of grass 

 ^nd garden produce of all kinds; for example, celery, 

 parsnips, cabbages, strawberries, etc. 



In its application to oil-bearing plants, bird-ma- 

 nure has proved so advantageous, because as a first 

 crop, even with a very strong manuring, they are not 

 easily lodged, and leave the soil in such a state of 

 vigor, that wheat or corn thrives excellently after 



use of guano. It is the Rubsen of the Germans. A large quantity 

 of rape-seed is annually brought to Europe from Calcutta. 



3d. The Wild Rocket, Camelina sativa. This is not so much cul- 

 tivated as the other two ; it is the Dottcrkraut of the Germans. 



4th. Linseed, Linum. This is so well known, that little need be 

 said on the subject. 



The recent value of the oil expressed from these plants in the 

 London markets is, — 



Rape, common brown, 33 shillings sterling per cwt. 



" refined pale, 36 " " « 



Linseed oil, 29 " " « 



Rape cakes are freely purchased at 100 shillings sterling per ton of 

 2240 lbs. The seeds of these oil-bearing plants are pressed, and the 

 residuum, after the oil has been separated, sold, as the oil-cake above 

 quoted, for manure and feeding cattle. 



That which has been well pressed is best for manure, that from 

 which the oil has been expressed with less care is best for cattle ; but 

 the manure from cattle fed with oil-cake is always stronger and more 

 efiicient than that without this article of food. There seems to be 

 no valid reason why these crops, particularly the rape, should not be 

 tried here. 



Quotations of oil-cake, Nov., 1852, in Europe : — 



Linseed cakes, best, £ 8 8s. to £ 8 IQs. per ton. 

 Rape " £ 5 



16* 



