98 THE FAKM. 



For farm purposes, guano siould be mixed with about four times 

 its own bulk of finely-sifted mould, or charcoal ashes, but never with 

 lime, nor used on land that has been lately limed, as lime rapidly ex- 

 pels the ammonia from the guano, and thus deprives it of its principal 

 fertilizing quality.* For the kitchen-garden, the most simple and also 

 economical mode of preparing the guano, is as follows : spread upon the 

 surface of the ground, about three inches thick, one hundred pounds' 

 weight of mould that has been sifted; sift upon this about half that 

 quantity of guano, and upon this sift another hundred pounds' weight 

 of mould. Protect the heap from the weather by matting, or by any 

 other kind of covering, and leave it for three days, at the end of which 

 well mix it, and sift it through a garden sieve. This quantity is suflB- 

 cient for the eighth part of an acre. It is now ready for use, and may 

 be put upon the ground in the proportion of half a pound of this com- 

 post to each square yard. Its application for vegetables causes an ex- 

 ceedingly abundant crop, particularly if used in cloudy weather, or just 

 before rain sets in. 



For the flower-garden, it is perhaps best applied in a liquid state. In 

 sifting guano for the kitchen-garden, some portion, such as decomposed 

 bones, beaks, or claws of birds, will not pass through the sieve ; if these 

 be steeped in water, in the proportion of four ounces to one gallon of 

 water, a ripb liquid manure will be produced. Or, if the guano itself 

 be used^ not more than from two to three ounces to each gallon of water 

 should Ife taken. Potted flowers watered once a week with this solution 

 will be much benefited. 



Guano is also useful to fruit-trees, and may be applied by well dig- 

 ging in and about the roots five or six pints of earth and guano, pre- 

 pared with sifting and mixing as previously directed. This quantity is 

 for standard trees ; about half that quantity will be amply sufficient for 

 an espalier ; and about one pint of the compost, well dug in and mixed 

 with the earth about each currant, gooseberry, and raspberry bush, will 

 be found highly beneficial. 



• In using it for potting, the compost must be well mixed with good 

 earth, care having been taken to thoroughly powder all the lumps in 

 the guano. If the plant be already potted, the guano compost may be 

 carefully stirred with the earth in the pot to about the depth of one or 

 two inches. 



When guano has been used in the compost state, that is, well mixed 

 with sifted earth, as above directed, its subsequent application in a liquid 

 state should not be in a greater proportion than at the rate of half an 

 ounce of guano to one gallon of water. 



The experiments which have been made, with a view to ascertain the 

 effects which result from using guano as a manure, both in the kitchen- 

 garden and the flower-garden, lead to the conclusion that, in the kitchen- 



* Lime or chalk is sometimes so mixed up in the soil, as to exhibit no indication 

 of its being present. To ascertain the fact, mix about half a pint of the soil in 

 about a pint of water that has been boiled and suffered to become cool. Add to 

 this, three table-spoonfuls of sulphuric acid ; if an effervescence takes place, some- 

 thing like that of soda-water, do not use guano to the soil, as chalk or lime is mixed 

 with it. 



