190 GUANO. 



good plan to make the mixture at least from four 

 to six days before it is scattered over the soil ; and 

 still better to undertake its preparation at a con- 

 venient time, before work presses on the farm, for it 

 very often happens that farming labor is crowded 

 into sowing-time, and the mixture of the guano with 

 earth is then executed hastily and unsystematically, 

 or perhaps not at all, the consequences of which are 

 very injurious. If, however, the mixture is already 

 at hand, these prejudicial consequences are avoided. 

 The scattering in the field is best managed in the 

 same way as that in which lime is usually put upon 

 the land, or by spreading from a seed-bag. It is 

 well to strew it upon the last ploughing some two 

 or three days before introducing the seed, and then 

 lightly harrow ; on a light soil, to roll, and after this to 

 harrow in the seed. Moist weather, during its appli- 

 cation to the soil (especially in spring or summer 

 sowing), exerts a very beneficial influence upon the 

 action of guano. 



The addition of earth is beneficial in a great vari- 

 ety of ways. Pure and good guano is so rich in am- 

 moniacal salts, as easily to corrode the tender roots 

 of plants, more particularly in dry weather ; by mix- 

 ing it with earth, it is so enveloped and weakened 

 that this injurious effect is no longer to be feared. 

 In this way, moreover, just as in the covering over 

 muck-heaps with earth, the possible escape of aeri- 

 form manuring elements from the guano is cut off, 

 since the porous earth has the property of absorbing 



