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Plants manured with guano usually present a dewy appearance on their leaves early in the morning. The guano absorbs the vapor frem the surrounding air, and this is especially fertilizing to plants, particularly in dry sultry weather.

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Compared with other excrementitious manures, guano is found to be by far the most preferable. It is about four times better than nightsoil, and more fertilizing, in the proportion of nearly three to one, than even dove-cote manure. It is, however, but fair to add that its effects upon the soil are not so lasting as are those of the stable manure, although far more prolific for a time.

Considerable quantities of this manure are found in the islands of the Pacific ocean; vast deposits have also been discovered on the islands abounding on the western coast of Africa. That imported from the small island of Ichaboe, is the richest in quality, and most estimated from its being very soluble and most free from sand or other useless admixtures.

The first cargo of Peruvian gano for the use of the British farmer, was imported in 1840, and since that time the importation has rapidly increased; but the trade in guano, which has been opened to the southwest coast of Africa, bids fair to be augmented to a degree which baffles calculation. In the first five months of the year 1844, nearly 7,000 tons were imported into Liverpool alone.

When Captain Farr of Bristol, who brought to England the first cargo of guano from Ichaboe, arrived at that island, it was covered with penguins, gannets, and other wild sea-fowl, in numbers that defied computation. Not having had any experience of the ways of mankind, they at first offered resistance, rather than betrayed any fear at his approach; but finding his encroachments interfered with their habits, they soon deserted the island, and retired to other more secluded situations.

The history of guano furnishes a singular and interesting evidence of the retributive operation of nature; it is, in fact, a return to the land, in a concentrated form, of a portion of the phosphate of lime, and other salts, which, carried away by the drainage waters, become the food of the fishes, the insects, and the weeds of the ocean; these becoming, in their turn, the food of the sea-fowls, are by those birds deposited, in the shape of indigested excremental matter on the rocky islands of the Pacific ocean, forming thus a portion of the guano which is now fertilizing the soil of England, to enter into the composition of other vegetables, and other animal substances.

The principal consideration, in using this fertilizing manure, is to keep in mind its peculiar and powerful qualities. In this respect, its application, as a manure, may be assimilated to the manner in which salt is applied. Salt, if used in its raw state, or in too powerful a solution, destroys vegetation. Guano, in like manner, must never come in close contact with plants; for all seeds, in the process of germination, give off a greater or lesser quantity of carbonic acid, and this acid, having a strong affinity for the ammoniacal portion of the guano, attracts it so powerfully, as to interfere with, and even destroy vegetation.

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For farm purposes, guano should be mixed with about four times its own bulk of finely-sifted mould, or charcoal ashes, but never with lime, nor used on land that has been lately limed, as lime rapidly expels the ammonia from the guano, and thus deprives it of its principal fertilizing quality.* For the kitchen-garden, the most simple and also economical mode of preparing the guano, is as follows: spread upon the surface of the ground, about three inches thick, one hundred pounds' weight of mould that has been sifted; sift upon this about half that quantity of guano, and upon this sift another hundred pounds' weight of mould. Protect the heap from the weather by matting, or by any other kind of covering, and leave it for three days, at the end of which well mix it, and sift it through a garden sieve. This quantity is sufficient for the eighth part of an acre. It is now ready for use, and may be put upon the ground in the proportion of half a pound of this compost to each square yard. Its application for vegetables causes an exceedingly abundant crop, particularly if used in cloudy weather, or just before rain sets in.

For the flower-garden, it is perhaps best applied in a liquid state. In sifting guano for the kitchen-garden, some portion, such as decomposed bones, beaks, or claws of birds, will not pass through the sieve; if these be steeped in water, in the proportion of four ounces to one gallon of water, a rich liquid manure will be produced. Or, if the guano itself be used, not more than from two to three ounces to each gallon of water should be taken. Potted flowers watered once a week with this solution will be much benefited.

Guano is also useful to fruit-trees, and may be applied by well digging in and about the roots five or six pints of earth and guano, prepared with sifting and mixing as previously directed. This quantity is for standard trees; about half that quantity will be amply sufficient for an espalier; and about one pint of the compost, well dug in and mixed with the earth about each currant, gooseberry, and raspberry bush, will be found highly beneficial.

In using it for potting, the compost must be well mixed with good earth, care having been taken to thoroughly powder all the lumps in the guano. If the plant be already potted, the guano compost may be carefully stirred with the earth in the pot to about the depth of one or two inches.

When guano has been used in the compost state, that is, well mixed with sifted earth, as above directed, its subsequent application in a liquid state should not be in a greater proportion than at the rate of half an ounce of guano to one gallon of water.

The experiments which have been made, with a view to ascertain the effects which result from using guano as a manure, both in the kitchengarden and the flower-garden, lead to the conclusion that, in the kitchen

* Lime or chalk is sometimes so mixed up in the soil, as to exhibit no indication of its being present. To ascertain the fact, mix about half a pint of the soil in about a pint of water that has been boiled and suffered to become cool. Add to this, three table-spoonfuls of sulphuric acid; if an effervescence takes place, something like that of soda-water, do not use guano to the soil, as chalk or lime is mixed with it.

garden, it may be generally and successfully used, if carefully applied after having been first well mixed with sifted earth, and not in too great a quantity. For potatoes, carrots, and onions, it is particularly good, and causes abundant crops, if used in about the proportion of one part of guano well mixed with nine parts of light soil, and half a spade ful of this compost spread upon a square foot of earth, and well watered immediately after. About two ounces of guano to the square yard, is the quantity we would recommend for small gardens.

The manner in which guano gives out its richness to plants, may be understood from Professor Cuthbert Johnson's description. He says"Until a plant has its leaves expanded, it lives at the expense of the seed; but the moment it spreads its leaves, it lives at the expense of the air. All plants contain oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon, three of which are gaseous substances. When a plant begins to spread its leaves, it absorbs or sucks in carbon from the air, wherein it existed in a state of carbonic acid. Nitrogen, an important ingredient of plants, existed also in the atmosphere; but the plant had not the power to suck it in from the air for its nourishment. Ammonia and nitric acid were the only two forms in which plants would obtain nourishment from nitrogen. So long as it was unknown that plants required this substance, it was not thought necessary to supply it in the way of manure, nor to preserve it from being lost to the soil. No manure can be efficacious unless nitrogen be present in it; and if manure be treated so, by exposure to the air, or by other means, as to allow the ammonia to escape, it is injured to that extent.

Guano, to be effectual, should be used in wet weather, or upon a wet day, for the sooner it is washed into the earth, the better; on no account should it be used on a windy day. It kills slugs, grubs, animalculæ, etc., and goes far to prevent the attack of blight and fly.

In the flower-garden it may be advantageously used, but here its application must be even more carefully studied than in the kitchengarden. Perhaps it is most safely used in a liquid state for most flowers growing in the beds. One pound of guano may be put into eight gallons of water and let stand for about four hours, when eight more gallons of water may be added. Stir this up for use, and it will be found a valuable liquid for pouring on land, especially for flowers.

As a general principle, it may be considered that guano may be applied to all hard-wooded and hard fiber-rooted plants, whether vegetables or flowers; thus it is very good applied to most shrubs, like the myrtle, fuschias, rhododendron, ribes sanguinea, rose-bushes, etc., but must be carefully and very sparingly used to all plants of a succulent kind, particularly such as the balsam, and the like. To geraniums, its use is of rather a doubtful character, unless used in the liquid state, and then it must be much diluted, say to the extent of twice the usual quantity of water.

With a variety of potted plants, such as fuschias, calceolores, roses, camellias, and the like, guano has been used with success; both flower and foliage have been much improved. Applied to potted plants, it should be used in the liquid state, about an ounce to a gallon of water, applied twice a week.

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APPENDIX TO THE FARM.

DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF WOOD.-Oak.-Numerous species of the oaktree are found in the United States. They are generally distinguished for great strength, but are coarse-grained, and prone to warp and crack under changes from moisture to dryness. The live-oak of the Southern States (Quercus virens) is prized in ship-building beyond any native timber. The white oak (Quercus alba) is employed for the keels, sidetimbers, and planks of vessels, also for frames of houses, mills, and machinery requiring strength; for wagons, parts of carriages, plows, and other agricultural instruments. Large quantities are consumed for the staves and hoops of casks, for which they furnish one of the best materials. The bark of the black oak (Quercus tinctoria), furnishes the quercitron used by dyers; most of the species of oak are employed in tanning, and they all furnish a valuable fuel.

Hickory or Walnut.-The wood of the different species of native walnut, or hickory (Juglans, or Carya), is eminently distinguished for weight, tenacity, and strength. It has, however, important defects. It warps and shrinks greatly, decays rapidly when exposed to the weather, and is very liable to the attacks of worms; on these accounts, it is never used for house or ship building, but is employed chiefly for minor purposes, where strength is the chief requisite: as in the teeth of millwheels, screws of presses, hand-spikes, capstan-bars, bows, hoops, and handles of tools. As fuel, the hickory stands at the head of native trees, and commands a higher price than any other wood.

Ash. The white ash (Fraxinus Americana) and some other species are of great use in the arts; ash-wood is strong, elastic, tough, and light, and splits with a straight grain. It is also durable, and permanent in its dimensions. It furnishes the common timber used in light carriages, for the shafts, frames, springs and part of the wheels; flat hoops, boxes, and the handles of many instruments are made of it. It is almost the only material of oars, blocks of pulleys, cleats, and similar naval implements, in places where it can be obtained.

Elm. The common American elm (Ulmus Americana) is valued for the toughness of its wood, which does not readily split. On this account it is chiefly used for the naves, among us commonly called hubs, of carriage-wheels.

Locust. The common locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) is one of the hardest, strongest, and most valuable of native trees. The larger pieces of its timber are used in ship-building, and the smaller pieces are in great request to form the treenails* or pins which confine the planks to the timbers. This tree is liable in the Northern States to be perforated by an insect, so that it is often difficult to procure sound pieces of any considerable size. Locust-wood is exceedingly durable when exposed to the weather, and forms excellent fuel.

* Commonly pronounced trunnels.

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