138 



VARIOUS KINDS OF MANUEE. 



Tnatter includes urate of ammonia and other ammoniacal salts, such as 

 oxalate, phosphate, and chloride, as well as decayed organic matter of 

 animal origin. The term bone earth includes phosphate of lime 

 (always the principal ingredient), phosphate of magnesia (always in 

 small amount), oxalate of lime; and in African guano a minute 

 quantity of carbonate of lime, and from ^ to 2 per cent of fragments 

 of searshells. The fixed alkaline salts are various salts of sodium, as 

 chloride, phosphate, and sulphate ; a little of a potash salt has been 

 detected. 



Smith American Guano. 



Fine 

 Chmcha. 



Ammoniacal matter 62 



Bone earth . 20 



Fixed alkaline salts 10 

 Rock, sand, earth 0'5 

 Water . . 7-5 



Middling, 



42 

 24 

 14 

 5 

 15 



Inferior. 



28 

 30 

 21 

 3 

 18 



100-0 



100 



100 



African Ouano. 



Ammoniacal matter 

 Bone earth 

 Fixed alkaline salts 

 Bock, sand, earth 

 Water 



100 



100 



100 



The guano from the islands on the British coasts contains the 

 same ingredients, but the soluble salts are generally washed out by 

 the action of rain. The following is the analysis, by Dr. K. D. 

 Thomson, of guano gathered on AUsa Craig : — 



Water 50'30 



Organic matter and ammoniacal salts, containing 3'47 per 



cent of ammonia ....... 12'50 



Phosphates of Ume and magnesia ..... 12'10 



Oxalate of lime ........ 1'50 



Sulphate and phosphate of potash, and chloride of potassium I'OO 



Earthy matter and sand 15'00 



Simple Manuees supply only one or two of the materials re- 

 quired for the growth and nourishment of plants. The ammoniacal 

 liquor of gasworks, in a very diluted state, has been advantageously 

 applied to the soil, on account of the nitrogen which it contains. Soot 

 has also been used, from furnishing salts of ammonia. Nitrates of 

 potash and soda have been recommended not only on account of the 



