Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-01-11
From the American Farmer.
Experiments with Guano.
ny DR.. DUPUY. OF PETERSBURG, VA.

To the Editor of the 4naerican Farmer:
DEAR SIR: It is but fair that those who reap the
benefit of other mems labor should in turn contribute
their portion It therefore gives me pleasure to do
what in justice feel bound to do When you re-
quested to furnish you something for publication
in your September number relative to my operations
with guano, was very much indisposed, and contin-
ued indispositon, with the necessity of trip to the
mountains has delayed compliance with your re-
quest till it is perhaps too late to your pur
pose for this season OF this however, you must be
the Judge
In the autumn of 1914, the use of guano began to
attract attention in part of the country, and
was disposed to test its value by few experiments
small scale. You will bear in mind that at that
time the only mode of application known thought
of with us, on the surface. No would have
been so rash as to turn SO light manure any depth
under the earth. therefore made my first applica-
ton ON the surface to my young turneps in August
either side of the drill Here the effect was very
short-lived, in all surface applications. In Octo
Der (23d) of the same year, made three applica-
tions to my wheat just after it had up, under
the following circumstances viz forty pounds guano
and half bushel of plaster to the fifth of an acre On
an adjoining fifth of an acre, applied forty pounds
of guano alone and another fifth of acre forty
pounds guano and half bushel drpped ashes all Join
ing | saw very little if any difference in the three
applications though the wheat upon the whole of
| them superior to the neighboring wheat which
had nothing applied This difference continued for
some months but like other surface applications it
| SOOn ptlSS6U away lie 1OllOWlIlS April (ZuJ aD-
piled one hundred pounds guano and one bushel of
plaster to half an acre of the field of wheat
AS in the former experiments the wheat grew much
more vigorously, and matured earlier, the ripening
having been effected before the impression wore off
submitted portion of it to weight in the sheaves
when it was cut, with equal portion alongside,
which had received no guano, and the increase was
about thirty per cent So far the results were not
remunerating, no benefit could be seen upon the
clover, and the effects upon the crop were on the
whole too evanescent to justify continuance of the
article and should have used it further if intel
Ggence had not been received in the winter of 1916
or 1917, that of those enterprsing farmers a.
bout Sandy Spring, Maryland had derived great ben
eft from its by introducing it inches below
the surface As far as am informed they are emit
tied to the credit of first using it in that way Upon
the faith of this new light the subject again de-
termined to make other experiments, and on Febru-
airy 25th, l847, began the following, several
tions of land adjoining each other for corn thus
No. Manure from farm yard, and then fallow-
ed subsequently, guano applied at the rate of $50
lbs. per acre, and narrowed in.
| No. 2-Fallowed at same time as No. l, without
manure. Guano at same rate and narrowed in.
No. 3-Guano at same rate, ploughed in or
inches deep. No manure
! No. Had neither guano nor manure, but was of
better quality than the other fields 1t was the site
of hedge-row of long standing and had been en-
rched by drppings from the stock. think it would
have yielded twice as much either of the others
| Products-No. yielded A bushels to the acre.