232 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The American Guano Company sent two barrels of the new 

 guano, for distribution among members who undertake to try its 

 value in their farms and gardens. 



The Secretary read the following from the Tribune: 



BAKER'S ISLAND GUANO. 



Notwithstanding the report of Commander Mervine, that no 

 guano exists upon the island discovered, or at least first landed 

 upon by Capt. Baker, we have had satisfactory evidence to the 

 contrary, and ocular demonstration, in the examination, on Satur- 

 day last, of a portion of a part ship-load now on the way here 

 from that locality. Four tons of guano, put up by Mr. Arthur 

 Benson on the island in iron-bound casks, and shipped by way of 

 the Isthmus of Panama, was opened at the office of the American 

 Guano Company in presence of some twenty merchants and a 

 committee of the American Institute Farmers' Club, to whom a 

 portion of the guano will be sent for experimenting upon various 

 crops, which is the only true way to test its value. 



There is no possible chance for dispute as to the genuineness 

 of this guano, as now exhibited. It is a very heavy guano, but 

 contains no sand, and is unusually rich in phosphates, in a form 

 ready for immediate use by the plants. There must be a very 

 considerable accumulation constantly going on of new guano, as 

 Mr. Benson says the number of birds is almost beyond human 

 belief. It is folly to attempt to go ashore with a good suit of 

 clothes on, as the bird droppings fall in a continual shower, from 

 the birds which fly overhead in flocks of countless numbers. 



Baker's island is situated in lat. 0° 15', and Ion. 176° 21', 

 and is one mile and 3,855 feet long, 5,040 feet wide, with deep 

 water enough for the largest ship to lie within 200 feet of the 

 shore, and so little surf that the cargo was put on board by whale- 

 boats, loaded to the gunwale, without the least trouble. In fact, 

 the trouble to be apprehended is too much calm, while the water 

 is too deep for good anchorage in a strong drifting tide. The 

 area of the guano deposit is 114,000, superficial feet, with an 

 average depth of four feet, and an average weight of at least 60 

 lbs. per cubic foot. 



