GUANO MANURE. 
99 
the article abounds in the largest quantity, and in 
its purest state. 
Guano is found in strata from 1 foot to 60 feet 
vdeep, on most of the headlands and islands all 
along the Peruvian coast, from five degrees to 
twenty-five degrees south latitude, a distance of 
about 1,200 miles, and exists in such unbounded 
quantities, that it will require ages to transport it 
away. It is without doubt the pure excrements 
of sea-fowl, which harbor in this region in such 
immense flocks as to literally darken the air in 
their flight. It has a strong pungent smell, ma¬ 
king it, frequently, excessively disagreeable to ap¬ 
proach within 2 or 3 miles of its deposites. The 
Spaniards of South America have used it as a ma¬ 
nure for more than 300 years, particularly on their 
crops of inaize ; and the Peruvian Indians had 
done the same before them from time immemorial. 
The corn in Peru is first allowed to get up as high 
as 12 to 15 inches, and then about half a handful 
(say 3 ounces) is applied to each hill by scattering 
it round the stalks, and mixing it up well with the 
soil. About the same quantity is again used just 
before the corn commences forming the ear, and 
as it never rains in Peru, the hills are irrigated 
within 24 hours after each application of the gu¬ 
ano. Land in many parts of Peru would yield 
tittle without guano; but with it the products are 
very abundant. Mr. Bartlett adds, that the com 
grown there, is the largest and finest he has ever 
seen in any country. G. G. Howland, Esq., of 
this city, applied it to strawberry and melon-vines 
last year, in his garden at his summer residence at 
Flushing, with the best effect. 
A company has purchased the exclusive right 
of exportation of guano from the coast of Peru, of 
the government there, having paid for the same 
about $1,000,000. They have exported large 
quantities to England, of which 15 to 20,000 tons 
still remain in Liverpool alone, unsold. Our last 
accounts quote it at £9 to £10 per ton. At this 
price, expenses of transportation, &c., together 
with the United States duty of 20 per cent., it 
would come too high here for general use among 
our farmers. If our government would abolish 
the duty, and it could be had at a low rate of the 
Peruvian company, and be brought directly to our 
own ports, it might be afforded at such a price as 
we think would ensure its use in considerable 
quantities on the Atlantic borders. We hope that 
some of our enterprising shipping merchants will 
endeavor to accomplish so desirable an object as 
the cheap importation of it would prove to the 
country. ! 
Guano varies considerably in analysis, for there 
are three kinds in Peru. The white is considered 
the most valuable, as being the freshest and purest. 
We have seen at least a dozen tables of analysis 
of it, but quote those only of Bertels and Yolckel. 
BERTELS. VOLCKEL. 
Paris. Parts. 
Urate of Ammonia... 32. 90 
Oxalate of Ammonia....134.106 
Oxalate of Lime.164. 70 
Phosphate of Ammonia.64. 60 
Phosphate of Ammonia and Magnesia 42. 26 
Sulphate of Potash. 42. 
Sulphate of Soda. 11. 
Muriate of Ammonia. 65. 
Phosphate of Lime.100. 
Sand and Clay.... —. 
Phosphate of Soda. 53. 
Alumina. 1. 
Residue (insoluble in acids) . 58. 
Waxy and Resinous matters. 6. 
Common Salt. 1. 
oo 
38 
42 
143 
47 
Organic matter, traces of salts ) 
of iron and water $ 
. 
Organic matter, free Am- > 
monia, &q., water $ 
1000 
1000 
Johnstone found one sample to contain 303 parts 
out of 1,000, of common salt, and another sample 
114 parts. 
An analysis in Liverpool, furnished us by Mr. 
Howland, gives 
Lythic acid 
Bone dust 
Ammonia 
Organic matter 
Sundries 
- 15 per cent. 
- 30 “ 
- 15 “ 
100 Parts. 
The English periodicals have been teeming 
with accounts of experiments with guano for the 
past live years; but as their climate and course of 
cropping are so entirely different from our own, 
we do not think it advisable to notice them further 
than by saying, that when properly applied in an 
unadulterated state, the results are highly satis¬ 
factory, and prove it superior to most other ma¬ 
nures, and we have no doubt the same would fol¬ 
low in this country, particularly on poor soils. On 
rich land, or such as has been highly manured, 
the application of guano would be of little benefit. 
It suits alike, grass, grain, root crops, flowers, and 
shrubs; and owing to its great condensation of 
fertilizing substances in a small bulk, it is particu¬ 
larly valuable and convenient in the conservatory 
and garden. 
Mr. Bartlett has been so obliging as to send us 
a bag of guano recently imported, and we shall 
take pleasure in furnishing any of our friends with 
! 
