Annual Report of the Consulting Chemist for 1879. 313 
whereas 13/. 10.f. per ton was asked for No. 2, that is 11. 5s. more 
than for the superior guano. Again, it will be seen that No. 3 
contained a little more ammonia, 6^ per cent, more phosphates^ 
and much less water than No. 2, and yet it was sold at 10s. 
less per ton than No. 2. 
Composition of Three Samples of Peruvian Guano. 
No. 1. 
No. 2. 
No. 3. 
*Organic matter and ammoniacal salts . . 
13 18 
36-19 
15-19 
17-58 
17-86 
19-75 
29-38 
19-85 
26-33 
4-69 
9-87 
30-17 
23-19 
22-95 
13-82 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
tContaining phosphoric acid 
Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime . . 
Total percentage of phosiihoric acid 
Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime.. 
8- 05 
9- 77 
3-96 
8-65 
10-92 
23-84 
6 16 
7-48 
2-43 
5-31 
11 52 
25-16 
6- 44 
7- 82 
3-89 
8- 48 
14-51 
31-67 
I need hardly say that 13Z. 10s. is an extravagant price for 
Peruvian guano which contained only 7i per cent, of ammonia, 
and that 121. is also too much for a guano of the composition 
of the sample No. 3. 
A guano of the composition of sample No. 1, and costing 
in Liverpool 12/. 5s. per ton, probably would have to be sold 
retail in the country at 13Z. to 13Z. 10s., including carriage ; but 
as the inferior guano No. 2 was sold at 13Z. 10s. at Shifnal at 
the same time when Peruvian guano worth 21. more per ton 
was sold at Liverpool at 12/. 5s. per ton, it appears to be 
probable that either the dealer took an unfair advantage of the 
fact that 13/. to 13/. 10s. was the retail price of high class 
Peruvian guano at the time, or that the inferior guano was sold 
on the basis of an analysis representing the composition of a 
high-class Peruvian guano. 
There is another point in connection with the sale of Peruvian 
guano to which I desire to call attention. The importations from 
the guano deposits in South Peru frequently contain more or less 
considerable quantities of stones, for which the Government 
agents allow a full deduction to the wholesale dealers ; it is 
therefore only fair that they should make the same allowance 
for stones in retailing the guano. Unless the farmer makes this 
just demand of the dealer for a reduction in the price of guano 
corresponding to the weight of stones in it, I fear he will not 
unfrequently pay for stones the same price which he gives for 
