THE CULTIVATOR. 
245 
^orsign GTomsponbcurc. 
MR. NORTON’S LETTERS—No. II. 
Laboratory of the Ag. Chem. Association, ) 
Edinburgh, July 1, 1844. $ 
Messrs. Editors —I regret that my excursions during 
the last two or three weeks, though most interesting in 
other points of view, have not generally been through a 
highly cultivated part of the country, and have not there¬ 
fore given me many new facts of importance in Agri¬ 
culture. While in Yorkshire, however, for a few days, 
in company with Prof. Johnston, I visited the farm of 
Mr. Bates, so well known as a successful breeder of Short 
Horns. As you have undoubtedly had descriptions of 
his stock from those far more competent to judge of their 
merits than myself, I will only say that they seemed to 
me more nearly perfect in many respects, than any ani¬ 
mals I have ever seen. I was especially struck with the 
knowledge which Mr. Bates evidently possesses of the 
subject to which he has devoted much of his life. Every 
American agriculturist who visits England ought to see 
this stock, as affording a notable example of the effect of 
care and judgment in breeding. From Mr. Bates’ cour¬ 
teous manner and hospitable attentions to our party, it 
would seem safe to ensure a kind reception of any gen¬ 
tleman who should visit Kirkleavington. 
Since coming to Edinburgh I have received several 
numbers of the Cultivator, and in those for May and June 
I noticed paragraphs founded on statements in English 
papers, respecting Guano from the islands of the North 
Sea, intimating that they were expected in a great degree 
to supercede those from Africa and Peru, and also that 
like deposites might be found on Newfoundland and oth¬ 
er islands of the North American coast. Prof. Johnston 
has kindly furnished me with information on this point, 
Which may be interesting and useful to your readers. I 
enclose the results of analyses of two specimens sent from 
the Hebrides as samples of these guanos, and by way of 
contrast, those of some of the best from Africa and South 
America. 
Analyses of the Hebrides Guanos. 
No. l. No. 2. 
Organic matter and water, with a slight trace of ammo¬ 
nia, . 70.44 75.51 
Common salt, sulphate of soda, &c., .. 3 57 3.50 
Phosphate of lime, of alumina and of iron, - .... 1.53 2,43 
Carbonate of lime, magnesia, &c., j.47 1.13 
Siliceous matter, (pieces of quartz, and a little mica,) - 22.99 17.43 
100 . 100 . 
A momentary inspection will satisfy us that no extra¬ 
ordinary fertilizing properties are possessed by these 
deposits, and the analysis also proves, not only that the 
rains and storms have carried away the ammoniacal and 
other soluble salts if ever there, but that the phosphates 
never were present in large quantity, for they being in¬ 
soluble would still have remained. It is thus evident 
that these so called guanos, consist chiefly of vegetable 
remains and quartz, and contain a very small proportion 
of the dung of birds, even in the Shetland caves, whence 
some specimens have been brought. That they are not 
to be compared to the true guanos as to fertilizing pro¬ 
perties, the following analyses will show. The ammo¬ 
nia separately, is not determined in any of these. It 
usually amounts to from 4 to 12 per cent. 
Analyses of two Guanos, both African. 
No. 1. No. 2. 
Water,.17.41 16.79 
Organic matter and ammoniacal salts, ...... 55.33 52.83 
Common salt and sulphate of soda,. 4.92 4.90 
Phosphate of lime and a little phosphate of magnesia, - 18.23 22.85 
Carbonate of lime, magnesia, &c.,.3-54 1 50 
Siliceous matter,.0.57 1.13 
100 . 100 . 
Analysis of two Guanos; No. 1 from the Island of Ichaboe 
on the African coast, and the other from Peru. 
___ 1. ill), m. 
Water and volatile ammonia,. 15.27 3.14 
Organic matter and ammoniacal salts,. 51.44 63.52 
Salts soluble in water, consisting of sulphate and muri- 
ate of soda,.5 50 5.02 
Insoluble siliceous matter,. 0 57 1.16 
Phosphate of lime and a little phosphate of magnesia, 21.11 22*20 
Carbonates of lime, magnesia, &c., - - . . . 6.11 4.96 
100 . 100 . 
The Peruvian guano, No. 2, is remarkable for the 
small quantity of water present, and both of the two last 
for the very large proportion of phosphates. Is it won¬ 
derful that these manures, compounded almost entirely of 
substances so beneficial and essential to a 1 crops, should 
be sought, as is the case in this country, with great avid¬ 
ity. The supply does not equal the demand. A cargo 
of ]000 tons which arrived at Liverpool a short time 
since, sold at once, at from ten to ten and a half pounds 
per ton. Such as the dry Peruvian, No. 2, would readily 
bring thirteen pounds, or sixty-two and a half dollars, 
and this too while nearly four hundred vessels are en¬ 
gaged in, or fitting out for this business. The above 
analyses were selected from about seventy which have 
been made of different specimens, during the past year, 
in this Laboratory. From the great demand, it follows, 
of course, that adulteration is practiced, and this too most 
extensively. One person purchased some, which was 
found to contain about 70 per cent of chalk. With the 
addition of a little ammonia to give the smell, and of 
some finely ground spent tan-bark to give the color, it is 
quite easy to imitate the appearance of guano sufficiently 
well to deceive the unpracticed. 
It is hoped that this revelation will not open a 
new branch of speculation to any of my ingenious bro¬ 
ther Yankees, for our reputation in that way is quite high 
enough here already. Yours very truly, 
John P. Norton. 
By the arrival of the Acadia steamer at Boston on the 
18th ult., we are furnished with our regular files of the 
Mark-Lane Express, New Farmer’s Journal, Farmer’s 
Herald, Gardner's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, to 
the 3d of July—also the Farmer's Magazine, London, and 
the Journal of Agriculture, Edinburgh, for July. By this 
arrival, we also received for the first time, the Irish 
Farmer’s Gazette; the Ayrshire Agriculturist, and the 
Doncaster, Nottingham and Lincoln Gazette—valuable 
papers, which we shall be glad to receive regularly 
hereafter. 
The weather, crops, &c. —In England, the weather 
had continued generally dry, up to the 25th of June, about 
which period copious showers occurred in many places. 
Wheat is generally good, but spring grains and grass 
have suffered much from drouth, and will give but a 
poor yield. The scarcity of grass has occasioned the 
markets to be crowded with store stock, the prices of which 
range very low. Some anxiety is still manifested among 
the English farmers, in regard to the increased importa¬ 
tion of foreign live-stock. Large exports of the finest 
English animals have been made, showing that the con¬ 
tinental graziers and flock-masters are using every effort 
to improve their stock in order to compete successfully 
with those of Great Britain. 
American beef, pork, and cheese, was selling in the 
English ports in considerable quantities at fair prices. 
In Scotland and Ireland, there has not been so great a 
deficiency of rain. The wheat is generally good, and 
other crops it is hoped will be at least middling. 
The Great Show of the Royal Ag. Society of England, 
is to be held at Southampton, July 23, 24, 25, 26—Jhat 
of the Highland Society at Glasgow, Aug. 7, 8, 9—that 
of the Irish Society, at Dublin, Aug. 14, 15. At the Irish 
Exhibition, a “ challenge cup,” of the value of 100 so¬ 
vereigns (near $500,) given by P. Purcell, Esq. is to be 
awarded for the best animal in the neat cattle classes. 
The premiums to be awarded by the Highland Society, 
amount to $7,500, being the largest list ever offered. 
Food of Laborers in Harvest. —A writer on the 
comparative merits of different modes of reaping, in the 
last number of the Transactions of the Highland Agricul¬ 
tural Society, says, cc I deprecate the practice of over¬ 
tasking young women in gathering heavy crops, as cruel 
oppression. Half the number of those hired to gather, 
not being habituated to active employment, it is unrea¬ 
sonable to expect them to do as much at an occupation, 
perhaps the most active that falls to the lot of women in 
field labor, as those inured to it. To alleviate this hard¬ 
ship, for the first week of harvest, especially if 
weather be warm, my plan is to make the reapers res* 
