174 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
From the New York Fanner and Mechanic. 
THE HISTORY OF GUANO, FROM DR. GARD- 
NER’S ESSAY. 
Among the many sniprising discoveries of the 
Spanish adventurers in America, that of islands 
formed of the excrement of birds was not the 
least. The fertilizing power ol this new ma- 
nure, evoking the most extraordinary growth 
from barren sand, in a climate unvisited by 
rains, was so worthy of attention, that the earli- 
er writers are full in their accounts of the guano, 
and speculations on its origin. The Indians 
knew that it was the excrement of the flam- 
rnands, cormorants, cranes, and other piscivo- 
rous birds that darken the air ol their coast. 
They calculated the supply of manure, and fix- 
ed seasons for its removal. The birds wmre to 
them providers of lood, for their sands could 
yield none: and hence they looked upon them 
with so great a reverence, that human life itself 
was scarcely equal to that of these birds. U'hey 
called the deposit huana, or dung for manuring, 
and formed from it the verb huanuchani, to ma- 
nure. Bat the Spaniards were not equally satis- 
fied of its origin ; they had no he.sitation in re- 
ferring the white, recent excrement, to birds; but 
the dark browm fetid guano seemed to be alto- 
gether another substance. 
Ulloasays — when the depth is considered at 
which the guano is dug, it appears probable 
that it is an earth, although the smell might be 
considered against thisopinton; and he is in- 
clined to suppose that a considerable portion ol 
earth is mixed with the birds’ dung. Frezier, 
who examined the coast in the last century, and 
visited the island of Iquique, (Voy. dans la Mer 
Sud.) tells us that Indians and negroes are en- 
gaged in collecting guano, which is a yellow 
earth, believed to be the dung ol birds from its 
smell, and the occurrence of feathers at a great 
depth; but he is overcome with difficulty to ac- 
count for such accumulations, since, for up- 
wards of one hundred years, there were loaded 
annually ten to iWTlve ships, and without any 
great diminution in its height. 
It was, perhaps, this doubt as to the nature ol 
the manure, that led the Spaniards to neglect 
the wholesome provision of the Incas in respect 
to the birds, so that now the bustle of ships and 
boats has driven them away. The discovery of 
large stores in the earth, under layers of sand, 
and sometimes clay, seemed to remove the ne- 
cessity for new deposits; and the recent article, 
which, in remote times, was almost exclusively 
used and gathered from the several islands to 
the extent of 20 to 23 tons the season, is now^ 
only procured Irom such collections as were 
overlooked by them, or unnecessary to their 
culture, and will be soon exhausted. The accu- 
mulation of recent excrement is extremely slow. 
“Experience seems to prove,” says Humboldt, 
“that one island wfill scarcely produce a ship 
load in a great number of years.” 
Several of the older deposits, under sand, 
were also worked by the Indians. The islands 
of Iquique, St. Lobos, Isla di Guana near Arica, 
are mentioned by the first writers. 
We owe most of our information of the pre- 
sent condition and extent of these deposits to 
Humboldt and Mr. Winterfieldt, who resided in 
Peru for a number of years, and published an 
account in Bell’s Weekly Messenger, Septem- 
ber 11th, 1841. 
Humboldt estimated the range of guano islets 
from 13 deg. to 21 deg. south latitude — but it 
certainly extends beyond these limits, for the 
island of Lobos is as far north as 6 deg. south 
latitude, and Mr. Bartlett, recently from Peru, 
states that they extend to the 25th degree south. 
The lands about Arica and all along the 
the coast are extensively manured with it; hence 
many surmise that the guano will be rapidly 
exhausted, but it is probable that only a few 
islands are yet known, for they extend to up- 
wards of fifteen miles from the coast. The beds 
of manure are usually under sand or drift, and 
reach various depths, from a few feet to 900 feet, 
according to some captains. In superficial di- 
mensions t'ney are equally various, from a lew 
hundred feet to upwards of a mile and a half, 
The success attendant on the importation of 
guano into England, gave rise to a mercantile 
speculation on the part of a company, who 
have secured from the Peruvian and Bolivian 
government a monopoly in the sale of the ma- 
nure, for which they are said to have paid 
$1,000,000; moreover there is a duty of £2> the 
ton levied on the export. 
The recent excrement is not an article of ex- 
port, but that which is red or brown. It usual- 
ly exhales an ammoniacal odour, which some- 
times, after heavy dews, becomes intolerably 
offensive. It is said that at Arica the smell 
from the neighboring guano islands is some- 
times so great as to keep off shipping — and an 
epidemic is even attributed to it: notwithstand- 
ing, the crews of vessels engaged in transport- 
ing it are robust and healthy. 
It is well understood that tlie manure is found 
only along those portions of the coast that are 
continually dry, and where rain scarcely ever 
falls. On all coasts similarly situated, the ma- 
nure will be found; but beyond, even although 
the birds may be as abundant, no true guano 
can be expected, but only the insoluble parts. 
The coast of Peru is admirably situated, be- 
ing the boundary of an interminable sweep of 
the Pacific Ocean, as a resting place for sea- 
birds, where they may form their nests and 
rai.se their young; but under these circumstan- 
ces they are intolerant of any interruption, and 
leave the islands as soon as an excavation is 
made for manure. 
From the Albany Cultivator. 
CHEMISTRY IN COMMON SCHOOLS. 
Why not introduce the study of chemistry in 
all our common schools, at least the rudiments 
of chemistry, and especially the meaning of 
chemical terms'? Why should not a boy, a 
farmer’s boy, be taught the meaning of oxygen 
and hydrogen, as well as that of the word water! 
When he is now told by the papers or books he 
reads, that water, (the meaning of which term he 
understands very well,) is a fluid composed of 
certain proportions each of oxygen and hydro- 
gen, (terms he knows nothing about,) he is at a 
loss. His education has left him with the idea 
that water is a simple element, as the ancients 
thought it was ; and he also complains of the 
use of these hard words, when the fact is they 
are no harder than any other w'ords to learn or 
to speak; but they are?ie«; to him, and thence 
he thinks them hard. All farmers should un- 
derstand the rudiments of chemistry at least, and 
as mu«h more as they can command ; no one 
can be a good farmer wnthout this knowledge, 
except by accident. It is in vain for writers on 
the subject, to try to use language that can be 
understood by those who have not learned the 
meaningof chemical terms. The word oxygen, 
for example, has no common term that would be 
understood more readily by such people, neither 
has hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, &c. See what 
a list Webster makes in defining these terms. 
"Oxygen— in chemistry, oxygen or oxygen gas, 
is an clement or substance so named from its 
property of generating acids ; it is the respira- 
ble part of air, vital air, or the basis of it; it is 
called the acidifying principle, and the principle 
or support of combustion.” "Hydrogen — in 
chemistry, a gas which constitutes one of the 
elements of water.” "Nitrogen — the element 
of nitre; that which produces nitre; that ele- 
ment or component part of air which is called 
azote.” “ CarZ)£>7i —pure charcoal; a simple 
body, black, brittle, light and inodorous.” Now, 
what information will one who does not under- 
stand the rudiments of chemistry, derive from 
these definitions! None w’hatever. But if 
chemistry made a part of common education, 
all these terms would convey a meaning to the 
reader of them as readily as do those of water, 
atmospheric air, and charcoal. It is not sup- 
posed that the science at large could be taught 
in common schools; for if it could, there would 
be no necessity for high schools. All that is 
intended by these remarks, is to recommend 
that the meaning of all chemical terms should be 
there taught. For example, the school teacher 
should teach the scholars the meaning ot the 
word water thus : Water, a compound fluid, the 
elements of which are by weight, eight parts 
oxygen, and one part hydrogen ; by measure, 
one part oxygen and tw.j parts hydrogen. Ox- 
ygen and hydrogen are gases ; they are both 
colorless, having neither taste nor smell. Oxy- 
gen gas is heavier than atmospheric air, and it 
forms a portion of the air itself. It is essential 
to animal life and combustion. Hydrogen gas 
is the lightest of all gases, and hence is used in 
fillingballoons; being about sixteen times light- 
er than oxygen. Now if such instruction was 
given in schools, there would be no complaint 
of the use by wuiters of hard names, hard words, 
&c. ; and farmers would know just as well 
what was meant by the words calcareous earth, 
gypseous earth, &c., as they now do of the mean- 
ing of marl, plaster of Paris, &c. I can see no 
more reason in restricting the education of boys 
to the common place words of our language, in 
our common schools, than I do in confining 
them in their farming operations to the old com- 
mon place routine of practice. Their education 
should be such as to fit them for the profession 
they are to follow, let that be w’hat it may. 
Chemistry and botany are as essential elements 
of an agricultural education, as any others 
whatever. But how few are there amongst us 
who know even the meaning of the most com- 
mon terms of either scie..ce ! S. 
LIMING LAND. 
In the application of lime to land, it seems to 
me that one great object is generally overlooked^ 
All the lime intended to be applied in one sea- 
son is generally spread at once, thus leaving it 
in a kind ol stratum, instead of being, as it ought 
to be, thoroughly mixed with the soil. Would, 
it not be better to pioceed as follows: Suppose 
you intend to apply sixty bushels to the acre. 
First spread twenty bushels carefully over the 
acre of ground; then turn the soil with the 
heaviest, or rather deepest operating plow you 
have. Then spread twenty bushels more in the 
same way, and turn that in with a medium plow 
passing across the previous furrow. 'Then 
spread the remaining twenty bushels and har- 
row that in, or turn it under with a light seed 
plow. This would effectually mingle the lime 
through the whole depth of the soil. Any one 
can see the reason of the thing and the advanta- 
ges of it ; the only object of it being the labor; 
but that is not more than is requisite to bring 
the soil into the proper condition for seeding. If 
wheat or any small grain be intended, then the 
third application can be made at the time the 
seed is sown. I do not much like the usual 
plan of applying thirty bushels one }'ear, and 
three or five years thereafter thirty bushels more, 
and so on, unless deficiency of means prevents 
the whole being applied the same year. The 
idea generally is, that, like manure, the first ap- 
plication is exhausted or nearly so in three or 
five years, and that then another application is 
necessary. 1 do not think the lime is exhaus- 
ted, but the small quantity applied having been, 
diflused through the whole of the soil by succes- 
sive plowings, the soil is not sufficiently calca- 
reous. Now if we apply the whole quantity as 
suggested above, the soil to its entire depth will 
have become charged with it; and, if enough is 
applied I do not believe it will be exhausted in 
twenty years, if then. — Alh. Cult. 
From the Louisville Journal. 
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES. 
What we have already published in regard to 
these roots, ought to be sufficient to induce ev- 
ery farmer to give them a trial. Dr. Martin, of 
this state, a high authority, recommends them, 
after long experience, as far superior to any 
other root both for hogs and sheep. It is stated 
that they will yield on an average three times 
as much a s the Irish potato. 
Mr. D. McMillan, of Livingston county, left 
word at our office, says the Genesee Farmer, 
that he lost seventy sheep last month by turning 
them into wffieat stubble and young clover im- 
mediately after harvest; and he wishes to know 
the cause of the disease. 
