On Guano. 



303 



" In a soil of remarkable sterility, composed only of white sand 

 and clay, it is sufficient to add a small quantity of guano to be 

 able to reap the richest harvests of maize " (Boussingault). 



" It has been calculated that from 600 to 700 tons are annually sold 

 in the port of Mollendo, for the use of the country around the city of 

 Arequipa. In the province of Taracapa, and in the valleys ofTambo 

 and Victor, the consumption should be something more ; as wheat, all 

 kinds of fruit-trees and plants, with the single exception of the sugar- 

 cane, are manured with the guano : which is not the case with the dis- 

 trict of Arequipa, where maize and the potato alone require it. In the 

 district of Arequipa 3 cwt. of the guano is spread over an extent of 

 5000 square yards ;* but, in Taracapa and the valleys of Tambo and 

 Victor, 5 cwt. are required. The land thus manured in Arequipa pro- 

 duces 45 for 1 of potatoes, and 35 for 1 of maize ; where wheat, ma- 

 nured with horse-dung, produces only 18 " (Winterfeldt). 



In 1 828 the annual consumption of white and brown guano in 

 Peru was estimated at 600 or 700 tons in all; but this is pro- 

 bably now much below the truth. 



These facts afford sufficient evidence of the value of this sub- 

 stance as a manure in the soil and climate of Peru. It has 

 recently, however, been imported in large quantities into this 

 country, and has already been tried upon various crops and soils, 

 and with highly satisfactory results. Several of these results have 

 been obligingly communicated to me; and, as the subject is an 

 interesting one to the agriculturist, I shall insert them in the words 

 of my several correspondents. 



1. Experiment of 3Ir. Puseij. — "The guano was applied, in the be- 

 ginning of July, to half an acre of ridged swedes, at the rate of 3 cwt. 

 to the acre, drilled under the seed. Bones, Poitevin's manure or night- 

 soil, dung, urate, and peat-ashes, were applied at the same time on 

 neighbouring pieces of ground. The first action of the guano was dis- 

 couraging; for, on one half of the ground dressed with it, no plant came 

 up. On transplanting into the blank spaces, the seed was found 

 encrusted with the guano, without any sign of vegetation. This ill effect 

 might be easily guarded against. Notwithstanding this check, the piece 

 dressed with guano now (Nov. 11) appears to be superior to all the 

 other plots excepting that which was dressed with duug." 



2. Exferiment of Mr. Love, of Castle Farm. — " I have made trial 

 of the guano for rape and turnips, and in both instances, I am happy 

 to inform you, it answered my most sanguine expectations. I mixed 

 14 lbs. of it, in the first trial, with 2 bushels of ashes ; and although 

 the weather was very dry, I could perceive a marked difference in the 

 growth of the plants a few days after they made their appearance. 

 Encouraged by my results, I next mixed 28 lbs. with 15 bushels of 



Villacori this people also manured with a species of small fish, taken in 

 great abundance on the coast. 

 * 4840 square yards make an English acre. 



