112 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



and where very rapid growth is wanted. The 

 Peruvian, on the other hand, acts for a longer 

 time, and is better calculated for crops which 

 continue to grow vigorously during many weeks. 

 The two will probably produce very similar ef- 

 fects for one crop ; but the Peruvian is much 

 more active on the second crop. 



Crops to which it is Applied. — It is hardly ne- 

 cessary to state, that the application may be 

 made to every crop, for experiments are alrea 'y 

 multiplied with nearly every common plant or 

 tree : to enumerate a few is sufficient. Wheat, 

 corn, grass, the cerealia, sugar-cane, tobacco, 

 apple, pear, and other fruit trees, flowers, cab- 

 bages, turnips, and other cruciferous plants ; the 

 experiments are few r est on leguminous plants. 

 But the effect of guano will not be equal on all ; 

 for those plants requiring most stable manure, 

 such as tobacco, turnips and corn, are more be- 

 nefited than grass, oats, or such as require less ; 

 the chief effect of the manure being due to the 

 quantity of the ammonia it contains. The rea- 

 son guano is serviceable to all plants, arises from 

 its containing every saline and organic matter 

 they require as food. 



Kinds of Soil to which it may be Applied. — It 

 has been used beneficially on all soils ; for as it 

 contains every element necessary to plants, it is 

 independent of the quality of the soil — one great 

 point being attended to, that the land be in good 

 tilth] for, otherwise, the tender roots of the ve- 

 getable find an obstruction to free growth, and 

 are crippled. Poor, well-tilled soils exhibit most 

 increase by guano, for in them some essential to 

 the growth of plants is more likely to be absent. 



Amount to be Applied. — On wheat 250 lbs. per 

 acre will be an average for a fair soil ; 300 lbs. 

 for one that is poor, and 200 for a good soil. — 

 Corn, potatoes, turnips, cabbages, and garden 

 vegetables, will require 300 lbs. in fair lands; 

 but the amount may be diminished by 50 lbs. if 

 two applications are made instead of one. For 

 grass, rye, and oats, 200 lbs. will be enough. 



Time and Mode of Application. — Seeds may 

 be prepared by soaking in a solution of two lbs. 

 of guano to the gallon of water, and this will 

 answer for a first manuring, if they are left suf- 

 ficiently long to exhibit signs of germination. 

 Wheat and other small grains should be steeped 

 m this solution about sixty hours, corn about 

 one hundred hours. Thus steeped, the seeds of 

 smut will also be destnyyed. Half the quantity 

 per acre to be applied when the plant has fairly 

 started, and is in second leaf. By this timely 

 addition, the effects of many insects are avoided, 

 and the seedling at once takes on a robust habit. 

 The remaining half should be applied to the 

 small grain crops when they are throwing out 

 new stems, or tillering; to corn, as the tassel 

 appears, or at the second hoeing, and so with 

 other hoed crops. This application should be 

 made, therefore, at the latest period of working, 



and as nearly before flowering as practicable. 

 The guano should be sowed with a mixture of 

 fine soil, gypsum or charcoal, to give it bulk, 

 and divide the particles. No lumps should be 

 lhrown amongst the plants, for they burn them ; 

 and where an extensive application is to be 

 made, it is better to screen the manure and 

 pound the lumps. In sowing, reach the soil, if 

 possible, for it is unserviceable to sprinkle it on 

 the plants, and frequently destroys them. Se- 

 lect a season when the land is wet or moist, or 

 when rain may be expected ; for in dry weal her 

 the guano does not answer well, or even does 

 injury, by acting as a caustic on vegetation. — 

 But if the crop suits, always prefer manuring 

 the plant or hill; do this whilst hoeing; less 

 guano is thus used, and more certain effects re- 

 sult. One tables poonful to the hill of corn, to- 

 bacco, potatoes, &c, is an abundance for each 

 application. If a solution be preferred, mix one 

 pound in ten gallons of water, and water spar- 

 ingly with this on the soil, and not on the plants, 

 at the times before mentioned, taking care to 

 stir up the insoluble portion when applied. For 

 this purpose, the African variety will be most 

 suitable. Or, where rapid growth is wanted, 

 irrespective of seed, the clear solution may be 

 applied ; the insoluble matter (phosphates, &c.) 

 being reserved for wheat and corn. Guano may 

 be composted with common soil, or any thing 

 but lime and unleached ashes; for these liberate 

 the free ammonia, and thus diminish the effects 

 of the manure. 



Value, Compared vrith other Manures. — So far 

 as the experiments in England and Scotland 

 may be adduced, one cwt. of guano is equal to 

 about five tons of farm-yard manure on an 

 average; but it is much higher for turnips than 

 for grass, &c. It would be advisable that in 

 the very different climate of the United States, 

 comparative experiments be made on this point. 

 Let twenty single cart loads of stable manure 

 be used per acre on wheat, corn, &c, and con- 

 trasted with four cwt. of guano. It would also 

 be of service to the agricultural world, that some 

 experiments were made on the value of the or- 

 ganic and inorganic portions of guano. A plat 

 of ground eight square yards may be divided 

 into two parts, half manured with the ordinary 

 guano, and half with the ashes remaining after 

 burning. In this way the proportionate effect 

 of the organic and saline parts would be esti- 

 mated, and the conclusion be serviceable, inso- 

 much as the saline matters can be mixed into a 

 compost for a trifling sum, and thus the expense 



of guano avoided. 



March 12, 1845. 



D. P. Gardner, M. D. 



Notice. — This publication is made by the 

 American Agricultural Association, not that 

 parties may be induced to purchase guano, but 



