246 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



peated several times with the same results. The 

 mode of experimenting is here illustrated. 



" The results with the better kinds in use 

 were as follows : (the dark part of the tube 

 showing the height the water was raised :) 



" No. 1 is a common T, with the cross-pipe 

 of a continuous diameter. When the blast was 

 directly through the cross-pipe, it had a tendency 

 to depress the water in the glass tube. 



" No. 2 is the same cap turned at a right an- 

 gle to the wind, when the water rose from 1^ 

 to 2 inches. 



" No. 3 is a well known and common cap. — 

 With this the water rose from 2 to 2£ inches. 



" No. 4 is a common elbow, with the blind 

 side to the blast. The water rose from 1^ to 2 

 inches. 



" No. 5 is the conical ventilator, with the point 

 to the wind. The water rose 3^ inches. This 

 cap was tried with the side forming a right an- 

 gle with the blast ; in that position the water 

 rose 5 inches. 



" No. 6 is a cap much used and highly prized 

 in Boston, and other places in the Eastern States. 

 It has a small tube in the end the next blast, 

 opening in the large cross cap, as shown by the 

 cut. With this the water was raised 4^ inches, 

 which was higher than any other (except with 

 the cone, when placed with its side to the wind,) 

 previous to the trials with 7 and 8. 



" No. 7, it will be seen, is two conical frus- 

 trums, joined at their smaller ends to a centre 

 cross-pipe. With this cap, either end to the 

 wind, the water rose to the full length of the 

 glass tube, 18 inches, and was blown out the 

 opposite end. Trial was made again and again 

 with this cap, at a right and other angles to the 

 blast, and in every instance the water was raised 

 from 7 inches upwards. A board was placed 

 behind, on the side, and in every mode, to break 

 or deflect the blast, yet the water rose in the 

 tube. This is a very simple cap, easy of con- 

 struction, and not likely to get out of order, as 

 it differs from most others in being stationary. 



"No. 8 is a single conical frustrum, with the 

 smaller end to the wind; the effect was the 

 same as in No. 7. With the open end to the 

 blast, the water was raised the length of the 

 tube, and blown out the opposite end." 



GUANO. 



Messrs. Dunlop, Moncure & Co. of this city, 

 called our attention to an assignment of guano 

 they have lately received from a house in Balti- 

 more, which they are offering to sell at three 

 dollars the cwt. 



Guano is, we will not say the prominent hum- 

 bug, but the prominent subject of the day. For 

 the last forty years it has been known in Europe 



that a deposit of extraordinary fertilizing pro- 

 perties, believed to be the excrements of birds, 

 was to be found upon the Pacific coast of South 

 America. But it is only within the last five 

 years that it has begun to form a subject of 

 commerce ; now it is estimated that upwards of 

 eight hundred vessels are engaged in the British 

 trade alone. 



We know that the excrement of different ani- 

 mals possesses different fertilizing qualities, and 

 the strength of bird dung is proverbial. The 

 superiority of this manure over the dung of pi- 

 geons, fowls, &c. is supposed to be derived from 

 the animal food which the birds on the sea coast 

 draw from the depths of the ocean. Guano, 

 then, is nothing more than the strongest kind of 

 bird dung. Although this deposit is made every 

 where upon the sea coast, being extremely so- 

 luble, it is only in those countries where rain 

 seldom or never falls, that it retains its virtues. 

 From the coast of Africa it has been lately im- 

 ported, but upon analysis the African has been 

 found, it is said, to be different in composition 

 and inferior in fertilizing properties to that 

 brought from South America. As to the quan- 

 tity to be had, recent examinations prove it to 

 be almost inexhaustible; the deposit is mea- 

 sured in miles, and the depth seldom falls short 

 of thirty or forty feet. 



The question is, what is guano worth to the 

 farmer, and what can the merchant afford it at. 

 The price in this country until lately has ranged 

 from five to ten cents a pound ; but the African 

 product has already been offered in Scotland for 

 about two cents, and it is contended that it can 

 be profitably imported at a cent, or a cent and 

 a half. Dr. Gardner, in an essay read before 

 the New York Agricultural Institute, asserts, 

 that an artificial composition can be formed 

 equal to the best guano, for two cents a pound. 

 The effects of this manure, exaggerated as they 

 undoubtedly are, have been frequently almost 

 magical. We have many marvellous reports of 

 experiments made in Europe, but Dr. Gardner, 

 who does not seem to be a very partial investi- 

 gator, says that the result of the best conducted 

 and most authentic seem to prove, that when 

 applied to roots, as turnips, &c, 100 lbs. of gua- 

 no is about equal to 8 tons of stable manure — 

 on grass 100 lbs. equals 6 tons, and on wheat 

 100 lbs. guano is equal to only 4 tons of stable 

 manure. He thinks the finest effect would pro- 

 bably be produced on tobacco. 



