Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-07-29
EXPERIMENTS WITH GUANO.
To the Editor of the american Farmer.

To the Editor Of the american Farmer.
During the present year have made seve-
raj experiments with guano, in order to test
It's value under different circumstances the
results of which present to your readers.
The most important fact which have been
enabled to establish to my own satisfaction
IS, that guano, like every other stimulant,
by excess or improper use, may prove as
detrimental to crops, as its well directed en-
pioyment will reward the enterprising hus-
bandman. Guano, however, is not mere
stilnulant without partaking in great mea-
sure of the nutritive character, for undoubt-
eddy the essential elements of seeds may be
derived from its constituent materials, and
probably other valuable products in the form
of secretions, &C.; but as vehicle for the
introduction of common nutritive matter, it
takes permanent rank with other bases and
saline ingredients of the soil, thereby pro-
noting vigorous growth in vegetables when
sufficient alimenl is provided them. If on
the other hand the soil be incompetent to
supply fresh food SO fast as it is disposed
of by the organs of the plant, the conse-
quences are disastrous if not fatal. During
,le drought of this season, portion of my
corn, upon which guano was literally strew-
ed, fired just as when ashes or other stimu-
lants are dropped in or upon the hills; and
what satisfied me that it was not the drought,
which in this case caused the injury, but an
insuffciency of pabulum, is the fact that a
portion which was freely watered suffered
10 a considerable extent but in a less de-
gree; whereas another patch, far richer in
vegetable mould and stable manure, on which
the same quantity of gnano was spread broad
cast, dourished admirably, although it was
not articially watered. may add, that the
ground in both cases was we'll worked, so
that felt convinced that no amount of car
bonic acid, ammonia or the vapor of water
from the air, will at all compare with either
the natural or artificial supply, derived from
tlecomposing vegetable and animal matter,
the refreshing draughts Of rain, the penetra-
ting influence of subterranean moisture, or
irrigation. Indeed during severe drought
it may be questioned whether an exposure
of the partially moist under surface to the
atmosphere does not allow more of the gases
and vapours to escape than The ground alb
serbs in turn and for this reason hesita-
ted to plough or disturb with the cullivator
certain spots, unless the appearance of the
clouds indicated falling weather, as uni
ionnly found that a contrary course left the
field more dry and unpromising, notwith-
standing an occasional deposition of dew.
IN this connection may mention another
fact which established during the preva-
aencv of the drought, that one good water
ing Oh portion of some early corn in my
garden was worth twice the amount of wa
Ter applied at different times in small guam
titles. because in the former case the water
soaked in and remained for considerable
time available, whereas in the latter, the sun
of the succeeding day generally dried it up,
ii the hill was opened with the hoe, or if
not opened, hard cake was formed on the
surface almost impervious to the air, the
oxygen of which regard as serviceable to
vegetables as to animals; a, least the oxida-
zion Of organic matter in the sap or blood is
essential to their vitality, all the doctrines
about the contrast between vegetable and
animal respiration to the contrary notwilh-
standing. The above facts warranted me,
think, in concluding that guano presents in
a condensed and therefore convenient form
most valuable materials for vegetative life,
and that its Use must be regulated by the
condition of the soil, so that cGeteris pa1i-
bus, more may be employed probably on
good ground than on bad; and that on bar
rem fields, would say fields comparatively
destitute of organic matter, it requires very
judicious management 10 prevent it from
disappointing the purchaser Other expert
1nenters in this vacinily will probably coin
eide with me in this opinion. 1t seems to
exhaust the soil at once, and thus leaves the
plants with the chances of precarious ex-
istence-frst, there is rapid deposition of
tissues, and afterwards as rapid an absorp-
ton and disinegralion of the succulent mat
ter within the meshes of the newly formed
leaves and stalks, without an adequate re-
source TO fill lis place, and some to spare if
the plants be young and thrifly. ] am not
one of those who look upon the tendency
of science to promote the artificial stimula-
ton of animals and vegetables as per Sc pre-
iudicious-provided the truth be fairly un-
derstood and acted upon, that the supply Of
nu,rimenl must be equal to the demand,
neither more nor less for repletion may as
eGectually thwart our efforts at the improve
ment of races as hamilton. The education
of child may terminate in disease or death
by overtaxing its powers, while judicious
exercise of its bodily and mental functions
may result in health and happiness.
The decay Of families IN the higher ranks
of society, and the potato rot, am inclined
to attribute to one and the same cause
luxury, or an extravagant stimulation of a
par, of their natural functions, whereby the
Others are enabled TO support the system
which gradually sinks. Consumption in
animals or vegetables is penalty for living