390 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



Jl'NES, 1814. 



A-M> HOR riCULTCRAL RKGISTEU. 



Edited by Joseph Breck. 



Boston, VVednesdav, June 5, 1844. 



GUANO. 



We insert below an article on this precious manurf, 

 Cfbiigingly farnislicii us by our friend Mr Tesclieinaclier, 

 in answer lo ihe inquiries of '* A Constant Reader." 

 Perhaps some of our readers may think that too much 

 hae already been said upnn the subject, — that guano 

 can never be used to advantan^e and profit in this coun- 

 try, (f there be any of this description, we would say, 

 do not condemn it before ii has been fairly tried, or be- 

 fore It can be brought in sucli quantities as to bring down 

 the price lo lis fair value. Thu3 far, it has benn brought 

 to us in sparing quaniiiies, and Uoriiculiurists have been 

 ao eager for it, that the imporiers have obtained their 

 own price. Mr Teschemacher wa-i one of the first in 

 this country to experiment with guano, and so saiisfied 

 IS he of its value, that he has exerted himself to tlie ut- 

 most to induce ship owners to turn their attention to the 

 importaiitin of it. To Mr T.'s influence we are indebt- 

 ed i'iiT the s'ljall lots which were brought this spring, 

 and which are now in the hands of some of our most 

 practical and scientific agriculturists in the country, 

 who will no dcubt give us a irut; account of tlieir exper- 

 iments. 



Mr Teschemacher U not the only gentleman in this 

 neighborht)od who has given guano a fair trial, or who 

 appreciates its worth. In a conversation with one of 

 our most eminent horticuhnrisls a few days since, who 

 has used ii from the first of its importation in tliis coun- 

 try, he said it was beneficial lo every plant lo which he 

 had applied it ; that it was astonishing to see its power- 

 ful results ; that it would bring about a revolution in 

 horticulture. Many plants that have hardly been 

 made to show flowers heretofore, are now, by guano, , 

 brought freely into bloom, and its effect in producing j 

 seed, where none was perfected before, ^hows cnnclu- ' 

 clusively ihat its fructifying influence is very great, and 

 will be of immense value in maturing and perfecting 

 the cereal grains, as well as the fruits and flowers more 

 immediately in the horticultural department. 



Its introtluction into Scotland has depreciated the val- 

 ue of iho siri'et manure in the city of Edinburg to the 

 amount of £1700 per annam, so that it has caused a se- 

 rious deficiency in the revenue, and embarrassment in 

 the department to which ihc sweepings of lire rily are 

 appropriated. It will, no doubt, if freely introdriced, 

 and the duty of 20 per cent, to which it is now subject- 

 ed, be repealed, bring down ihe high price of manure 

 in our city and vicinity, which, as all engaged in ao-ri- 

 cnliure know, is enormously high. What effect it may 

 have in the Interior, with slovenly husbandry, or with 

 good husbandry, we cannot foretell. We may safely 

 «ay, however, to the former class, ihey will not be much 

 benefited either by tfiia or any other manure. They 

 must toil on, and continue to be eati^fiod with meagre 

 crops, hard labor, and hard fare, and merely vegetate — 

 wliile Ihe more intelligent farmers are pursuinf; their 

 interestirig inveHiigalinns in ngrieultur.il science, pryin" 

 into the secret opcrnlioni of nature, and brintring un- 

 der their control l!ie difficulties wliich heset their path ; 

 and ihoiigh a full purse i.i not always their reward, their 

 inqiiiripR and researches mingle many pleasures with 

 their toils, their minds are enriched, their occupation 

 )<i honored, and ihcy arc preparing to give to agricul- 

 ture that interest and importance among us. (»f wiiich, 

 a« yet, we have but a faint conr-eption 



In a recent number of the London Gardeners' Chron- 

 icle, we noticed a number of analyses of guano, by Pro- 

 fessor John-on, the results of which nearly correspond 

 with ihe one given a short time since by Mr Tesche- 

 macher. We are happy to notice this, as it will be neces- 

 sary that an analysis of a samfde nf every cargo sht)uld 

 be made by some scientific gentleman, bufore its true 

 value can be known. 



By papers received by the last steamer, it would seem 

 that the Engiisii farmers are " running mad" after guano 

 manure. Vessels were daily arriving (rom the coast nf 

 Africa, laden almost entirely with guano, which is 

 eagerly purchased at high prices. 



To the Editor of the JV E- Farmer : 



Sir: — Your correspondent, "A Constant Reader.'' 

 hns put qiiestinns respectrni: Guano, In which it is diffi- 

 cult to give perfectly salisfactorv reitlies. The great 

 difference in llie ingredients fnund by the numerous 

 analvses in Europe, indicate con>iderablo variation in 

 the quality nf alru'^st every parcel. The analyses of 

 Professor Johnson, of Edinburg, some of which a"Tee 

 pretly closely with ihe one I sent you lately, .•^till differ 

 considerably — in one instance shewing as much as 33 

 per rent, of common sea salt, which u^^ually only exists 

 in quantities of about 3 to 5 per cent. : this parcel whs, 

 therefore, evidently taken from that part of a Guano 

 island much exposed to the spray of the sea. A greater 

 variation exists in the quantity of moisture, and this is 

 an object of mirch importance, for, in analvzinji 1000 

 parts, of these are 300 parts of moisture, or 30 per cent 

 It is clear, then, there are only 700 parls of Guano sub- 

 mitted to analysis; whereas, in parcels whicli contain 

 only 10 per cent, of moisture, there are 000 parts 

 of Guano submitted. This, of course, alters the amount 

 of all the other products, and therefore the value of the 

 Guano to the farmer. 



From the Guano taken from the surface of the depos- 

 its, ii is probnble that a large proportion of the ammonia 

 has evaporated : that would seem better, therefore, 

 whii.'h has been taken below ihe surftce. 



Much judgment will he required in deciding on the 

 exact value of the Guano whir h will be imported here, 

 but it is so rich in its fertilizing powers, that I do not be- 

 lieve that any small difference will be of much conse- 

 quence to the farmer. My continued reseaiches con- 

 firm my previous opinion of the African being at least 

 equal to the Peruvian. 



The great difficulty they have had to contend with in I 

 Englanil, is the adulteration ; and the only remedy for 

 this is to purcha-^e from men wfiosn character stands 

 above all srispieinn nn the subject. I have been very 

 anxiiius to persuade our ship owners to send vessels to 

 Africa for ihis manure, that niir farmers m'glil not re- 

 main as nuiny as twenty or thirty years behind the rest 

 of the world, rn that puisuit whirh is the occupation of 

 their lives. In several instanres, i am happy to say I 

 have succeeded, and when I have had the opportunity, 

 I have iriven a few short instrncMons to the captains, to 

 guide them in their choice of '^di^cins," so (hat I tru**! 

 we shall have several good cargoes here for next season. 



1 have tliought this general reply to " A (Constant 

 Reader," pref-rable to a di»Jiinct reply tn each que-tion. 

 Yours, truly. J. E. TESCHEMACHER. 



Boston^ May Q-Qth, 1844. 



To the Editor of the JV, E. Fanner : 



Dear Sir — I send you the following reply lo the 

 questions of your correspondent. Dr. Holt, of East Had- 

 dant. Conn. 



Humate of potash is made by nrixing a very strong 

 solution of caustic potash with sawdust, and melting 

 lire wh()le in un iron pot It is a dark red brown mass, 

 very soluble in water. Peal nr swamp muck, or any 

 other vegetable mailer, will answer in ihe pliice of saw- 

 dust. 



Apocrenate of ammonia rs made by diiresting at a 

 boiling heal, peal or swamp muck with carbonate of 

 am mom a, and straining off the liquor, which is of a deep 

 coffee hnrwn color. This may be evaporated to dry- 

 ness-, ftr to the titate cif a thick extract, before it is mixed 

 with (he guano salts 



A saturated nmmoniacal solution of peat or swamp 

 muck, may be made by mixmg carbonate of nmnmnia 

 will) it and then leaclung it in the same way lliat pot- 

 ash lye is oblamed from ashes, pourino- hot wnter thrfiush 

 il and collecting the filtered solution, which cou'sists 



mostly of ihe apocrenate r)f ;imnionia, with a little of if 

 crenale arrd humate of amrnoni;i and extract of humu 

 This liquid iii one of li.e most powerful of liquid ni; 

 nures. Tire remaining peat is still charged with amm 

 nia, and miy be used for manure, mixing it with tl 

 other ingredients of the compost iieap. 



To Consolidate Urine and Retain the Ammonia. 



The following is an excellent method of collectin 

 tlie salts and gaseous matters of urine, which 1 hav 

 tried myself, and recommended to many of my agricu 

 lural friends residmg near large towns or cities; — 



Talie 20 measures of dry peal and one of ground gy[ 

 j-um, and mix them well together. Place barrels ha 

 full of tliis mixture in places where urine may be co 

 iected, and il will be found that the sails and ammoni 

 of many barrels of urine will be consolidated in th 

 mixture, without giving the slighlest odor, or being 

 any way offensive, for the salts are taken up, and th 

 carbonate of ammonia, formed by decomposing urea, 

 immediately absorbed. 



This method of getlmg rid nf a nuisance and of cor 

 solidatinj; a valuable liquid manure, full of the moil 

 useful salts, ought to receive attention A mixture ( 

 peal or swamp murk and gypsum, will also t-erve to al 

 sorb all the disagreeable gases of vaults, wliich will b 

 converted into fertili/mg compounds with tlie sulphuri 

 acid of the gypsum and the organic vegetable acids c 

 the peat. 



Yours, respectfully, 



C. T. JACKSON. 



BosiOHy June ]st, 18A'\. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



EXHIBITION OF FLOWERS. 



Saturday, June 1, 1844. 



From Samuel Walker, three superb Bouquets. 



From J. L L F. Warien. Dahlias— Ihe fiisl of th 

 season — var. Dodd's Mary, Crichton, and Lord Liver 

 pool. 



From John A. Kenrick, several varieties of Azaleas 

 pEBonius, double Hawthorns, Honeysuckles, Scotch La 

 burnum, Ciiiiinanihus virginica, or Fringe tree, flemero 

 callis, &c. 



Fro(n Joseph Breck & Co , 5 varieties Pseonies, 5 var 

 Iris ; Bouquets and Pansies. 



From liovey &, Co , a fine assortment of Rosea. 



Froni John llovcy, two Bouquets. 



From J. F. Allen, iwo snpetb clusters of Aimee Viber 

 Roses; one bunch (onlaining more than 50 buds am 

 flowers. 



From Samuel R. Johnson, Harrison and Austrian Ro 

 ses, Acacias, &.c. 



From VVm. Kenrick, a fine display of flowers, beau 

 tifiilly arranged by Miss Russell — among 'which wen 

 Pneoniesof various sorts, Laburnums, Purple Beech 

 Honeysuckles, Lupins, Roses, Hemerocallis, &c. 

 For the Committee, 



J. BRECK, Chm'n. 



EXHIBITION OF FRUITS. 



The President of the Society presented gome very su- 

 perior specimens of Apples, from the nursery of Messrs 

 Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. V. The size ol 

 the fruit large, flavor fine, color beautiful. 'Piie follow- 

 ifig Idler addressed to the President, will give oui^ 

 friends all the neiessnry information, as it regards thf 

 origin of the fruit, &c. ; hut we cannot lorh. ar stating 

 that we know of no variety of liie applo superior, if ir 

 all re.-ffjecls equal, (at tins season of the year,) lo tht 

 " Northern J^py." It gives us pleasure lo learn thai 

 Messrs. E *t B. liave 3000 young trees under cultiva- 

 tion, and we hope our friends will be able lo get a sup- 

 ply nf itiis valuable fruit : — 



M. P. Wilder, Esq., Presd't Mass. Hort. Soc— Dear 

 Sir — We send, accompanying ihis, pe.r Pomeroy *& Co. 's 

 Express, a f'W t.f the " Northern Spy"' apples, to ytmr 

 address. It is considered a native fruit ot Western New 

 York — iho original tree having produced numbers of 

 suckers that are now beariirg the identical fruit. It ia 

 esteemed lu-re one of oirr best friiiis of this season, and 

 it commands almost any price in our market. Tliey are 

 sold at 2 to 3 cents each now in ihc streets at the fruit 

 shops. The tree is (tne of the ino^t vigorous and hand- 

 some growers, and bears very abundantly. You will 

 please present lliese specimens to your Society, in our 

 name. There are several quite superior fruits consider- 

 ed natives of onr rej;ion, that we will forward in season 

 for the inspection of your Society. 



