We might give much more evidence of the same kind, to prove that every
barren acre upon Long Island, might be made productive by a judicious
and profitable application of guano; but if there are any persons, who,
after reading these pages, are still doubting, we must say they are most
incorrigably determined not to profit by the experience of others. To
such it would be useless to say more.
_Successful Experiment with Guano as a Top Dressing on Wheat, in North
Carolina._--On page 17, we gave some account of the application of guano
by Henry K. Burgwyn, Esq., since which, we have been favored with the
following letter from his brother, T. Pollock Burgwyn, written, as will
be seen, not for publication, but simply to give the party from whom he
purchased the guano, a detail of his success.
"_New York, Sept._ 20, 1852.
MESSRS. A. B. ALLEN &. Co.--Dear Sir:--Having promised
that I would furnish you with the result of my application of the
21 tons of guano which I purchased of you last winter, I proceed
now to do so, and give you full liberty to quote my experience in
favor of the use of that most invaluable manure, to all who are
anxious to profit by the experience of others without incurring any
risk of their own. My object, and it should be that of every one
who has used guano, is to extend the knowledge of its great value
to any owner of poor soil, like the worn out plantations of North
Carolina. I applied 20 tons of this guano as a top dressing to a
field of 200 acres, which had been seeded in wheat under most
unfavorable circumstances. At the time of application, so
unpromising was the appearance of the growing wheat, that my
manager and myself thought it almost a waste of money and labor to
try this experiment,(1) but as the rest of my crop did not require
any manure, I resolved to see what would be the effect. I am
confident the field would not have averaged, without the top
dressing, seven bushels per acre--it yielded rather over 13
bushels, besides securing to me a full setting of clover.(2)
My mode of application was as follows; to each 200 lbs of guano I
added two bushels of ashes and a bushel of plaster mixed
intimately, and then sown broadcast, at the rate of six and a half
bushels per acre, harrowed in with a light harrow. This application
was made in March, and the early part of April, and in less than
three weeks after the application, the wheat had undergone an
entire change, from a yellow, sickly color, to a dark luxuriant
green. The application had evidently infused new life and vigor
into the plants, and as the result proved, very nearly or quite
doubled its product. So much for the crop of wheat; but what was
still more valuable to me, in my system of farming, it likewise
secured for me a full crop of clover, which would certainly have
failed but for this application. I also applied one ton of this
guano mixed in the same way, to a small field of oats. I plowed
this under with a small plow, together with the oats; the result
was equally gratifying. My chief object in this last experiment,
was to secure me a small field of clover, near my stables, and in
this I fully succeeded; which I feel assured I should not have done
but for the guano. My brother and myself have made various
experiments of late years, with guano, and concur in the testimony
of all those who have tested its value, carefully and judiciously,
in pronouncing it to be the most expeditious renovater of the soil
within the farmer's reach; and exclusive of the farm yard, the most
economical of all manures. In proof of my conviction of its value
to me, I shall this fall give you an order for 20 or 30 tons more.
I will only add that I consider every wheat grower who would study
his own interest, will find it by trying similar experiments.