Professor Johnson says--"Soils are barren either from the presence of a
noxious principle or the absence of a necessary element. It is therefore
highly important to be able to distinguish between the two cases.
"The art of culture is almost entirely a chemical art. Its processes are
explained on chemical principals in part, but partly on mechanical and
natural ones.
"All forms of matter may be divided into one of the two great
groups--organic or inorganic matter."
In Peruvian guano, both these substances exist in a better and cheaper
form than can be obtained from any other source.
The editor of the Genesee farmer, whose scientific information none can
dispute, strongly corroborates this opinion. In a late number he
says--If we admit that phosphate of lime is a necessary ingredient in a
special manure for wheat--Peruvian guano would at present be much the
cheapest source of it; for, in addition to the 16 per cent. of ammonia,
it contains 20 per cent. of phosphate of lime in first-rate condition
for assimilation by the plant, as well as other fertilizing ingredients
of minor importance.
As a manure for wheat, therefore, we greatly prefer good Peruvian guano,
even to the _improved_ superphosphate of lime.
_Difference in favor of Guano over Bone dust._--Robert Monteith,
England, dressed oat ground with 276 lbs. guano per acre, cost 31
shillings, produce 59 bushels, value £7 7s 6d. Same quality of land with
10 bushels bone dust, cost 23 shillings and fourpence, produced 43
bushels value £5 7s 6d, which gives a balance in favor of guano of £1
12s 4d, or about $7 50 per acre.
_Difference in favor of Guano over Manure._--The Yorkshire Agricultural
Society of England, instituted a series of experiments several years ago
for the purpose of working out practical facts in relation to guano,
through a series of crops, upon different soils, by different persons,
upon whose report the utmost reliance might be placed, so as to
determine the value, or advantage to British farmers, who might use this
extraordinary fertilizer. This report has just been published, and the
following is a synopsis of the results. The experiments were arranged
under the following heads--
1. To show the natural produce of the land, one part was to have no
manure whatever.