522 [Assembly 



the surface ; but our travellers say that guano is the Indian name for 

 dung in general, that it is the dung of sea birds which abound here in 

 a very extraordinary manner. These birds after spending the day in 

 catching their food in the sea, repair to the islands near the coast, to 

 rest during the night j and their number being so great as entirely to 

 ^over the ground, they leave a proportionable quantity of excrement 

 or dung. This is dried by the heat of the sun into a crust, and is 

 daily increasing so that although great quantities are taken away, it is 

 never exhausted. This guano is used by the natives to manure their 

 maize, (Indian Corn.) A little of it is put near each stem and imme- 

 diately watered, and the same watering as often as necessary ; it is 

 found greatly to fertilize the ground. It is also used in fields of some other 

 grain, but never with wheat or barley. Vast quantities are yearly used 

 in the agriculture of the country. 



"The fish consumed by the guanoes, {^ls ihe fishing birds are called) 

 are anchovies, the shoals of which ore beyond all comparison. Many 

 of these birds arc called alcairaces ; they are a kind of gull, 



THE GRAPES 



" The grapes at Lima are of various kinds ; and among them one 

 called the Italian, is very large and delicious. The vines extend 

 ihemselves on the surface of the ground, which is very well adapted 

 .o support them, it being stoney or full of sand. These vines are 

 pruned and watered at proper times, and they thrive remarkably with- 

 out any other care. No other culture is bestowed upon those designed 

 for wine, but none of the grapes near Lima are used for wine ; the 

 demand for them for the table being loo large." 



The Secretary observed in reference to planting seeds, that a very 

 fair and careful experiment on plantii;g wheat was made near Paris a 

 few years ago, which led distinctly to the depth of about one inches and 

 a half for best and greatest crop. That he had for a great many years 

 planted corn about half an inch deep with great advantage to the crop. 

 That he had often observed that deep planted corn comes up often 

 yellow and remains unfolded for some days, while that planted very 

 shallow comes up green and unfolds leaves broader than the other, 

 and stretching them almost horizontally over the surface. That some 



