MANURES. 47 



much potash or soda, according as either is used, as would be 

 furnished by three barrels of ashes. It has besides, a large 

 quantity of nitrogen, the most valuable ingredient of animal 

 manure, which by judicious application, is either converted 

 into ammonia, or serves the same purpose in yielding nutri- 

 tion to plants. 



AMMONIACAL LIQUOR (from the gas-houses}. 



This liquid is the residuum of bituminous coal and tar used 

 in making gas, and holds large quantities of nitrogen, from 

 which ammonia is frequently extracted. When used for land 

 near by, it may be carried to the muck-heap in barrels ; and 

 when at remote distances, gypsum or charcoal dust may be 

 added to the barrel, stirring it well for some time, and then 

 closely covering it. The gypsum and charcoal soon combine 

 with the ammonia, when the liquid may be drawn off, and the 

 solid contents removed. It is a powerful manure, and should 

 be sparingly used. 



GUANO 



Is derived exclusively from the animal creation, but from 

 its existence in a highly condensed state, and in combination 

 with large proportions of the salts, and having by its accu- 

 mulation through thousands of years lost the distinguishing 

 characteristics of recent animal matter, it may almost be con- 

 sidered as a fossil, and is properly enough classed under the 

 head of inorganic manures. It is the remains of the dung, 

 feathers, eggs, food and carcasses of innumerable flocks of 

 marine birds, which have made some of the islands in the 

 Pacific and Atlantic oceans, places of resort for rearing their 

 young through unknown ages. It is found in the Pacific, 

 near the coast of Peru, between latitude 13 and 21 south, 

 where the rain never falls; and in some places it has accumu- 

 lated to the enormous height of 60 and 80 feet. Yet such has 

 been the demand for this justly popular fertilizer, that over 

 373,000 tons were imported into England from July 1844, to 

 the same period in 1845, at an average value of $33 per ton. 

 A comparatively small amount has been taken to other coun- 

 tries, including the United States. Its value has been known 

 and appreciated from time immemorial by the Peruvians, who 

 transferred it to the continent, and used it for various crops. 



