THE FLOWBE-GAEDEN. 97 



Plants manured witli guano usually present a dewy appearance on 

 their leaves early in the morning. The guano absorbs the vapor from 

 the surrounding air, and this is especially fertilizing to plants, particu- 

 larly in dry sultry weather. 



Compared with other excrementitious manures, guano is found to be 

 by far the most preferable. It is about four times better than night- 

 soil, and more fertilizing, in the proportion of nearly three to one, than 

 even dove-cote manure. It is, however, but fair to add that its effects 

 upon the soil are not so lasting as are those of the stable manure, 

 although far more prolific for a time. 



Considerable quantities of this manure are found in the islands of the 

 Pacific ocean ; vast deposits have also been discovered on the islands 

 abounding on the western coast of Africa. That imported from the 

 small island of Ichaboe, is the richest in quality, and most estimated 

 from its being very soluble and most free from sand or other useless 

 admixtures. " 



The first cargo of Peruvian guano for the use of the British farmer, 

 was imported in 1840, and since that time the importation has rapidly 

 increased ; but the trade in guano, which has been opened to the south- 

 west coast of Africa, bids fair to be augmented to a degree which baffles 

 calculation. In the first five months of the year 1844, nearly 7,000 

 tons were imported into Liverpool alone. 



When Captain Farr of Bristol, who brought to England the first 

 cargo of guano from Ichaboe, arrived at that island, it was covered 

 with penguins, gannets, and other wild sea-fowl, in numbers that defied, 

 computation. Not having had any experience of the ways of mankind, 

 they at first offered resistance, rather than betrayed any fear at his ap- 

 proach ; but finding his encroachments interfered with their habits, 

 they soon deserted the island, and retired to other more secluded situa- 

 tions. 



The history of guano furnishes a singular and interesting evidence 

 of the retributive operation of nature ; it is, in fact, a return to the 

 land, in a concentrated form, of a portion of the phosphate of lime, 

 and other salts, which, carried away by the drainage waters, become the 

 food of the fishes, the insects, and the weeds of the ocean ; these be- 

 coming, in their turn, the food of the sea-fowls, are by those birds 

 deposited, in Jhe shape of indigested excremental matter on the rocky 

 islands of the Pacific ocean, forming thus a portion of the guano which 

 is now fertilizing the soil of England, to enter into the composition of 

 other vegetables, and other animal substances. 



The principal consideration, in using this fertilizing manure, is to 

 keep in mind its pecilliar and powerful qualities. In this respect, its 

 application, as a manure, may be assimilated to the manner in which 

 salt is applied. Salt, if used in its raw state, or in too powerful a solu- 

 tion, destroys vegetation. Guano, in like manner, must never come in 

 close contact with plants ; for all seeds, in the process of germination, 

 give ofi' a greater or lesser quantity of carbonic acid, and this acid, 

 having a strong affinity for the ammoniacal portion of the guano, at- 

 tracts it so powerfully, as to interfere with, and even destroy vegeta- 



ibn. 



■e 



