The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-27

LABORATORY OF TIN STATE CHEMIST,
No. 10 North Eutaw street.
EDIroRs OF THE Sun Gentlemen: As the follow.
ing il of interest TO large class Of your readers
viii you please give il an insertion in your paper
Having had numerous queries propoundcd to me
to the quality of the guano now in market, here
publish for the information Of the agricultural COM
nunity tho following analyses of several cargoes,
recently imported and now offered for sale.
The samples. with one exception, were furnished
70 me by Mr.. N. Berry, commission merchant,
No. Light street wharf,
Sample from ship Greyhound was composed Of:
Water, 1910 per cent; ammonia, 1928 per cent.
sand and earthly matter, 40 per cent; organic
carbonaceous matter and other constituents, Al ~
sample from ship Albany was composcd of:
Water Is 90 per cent; apmonia, 1894 per cent;
sand and earthly matter, LAO per cent; organic
carbonaceous matter and other constituents, 40.4
per cent; phosphates, 30 per cent.
Sample from ship Brooklyn was composed Of
Ammonia, 1900 per cent; sand and earthly mat
ter, l9O per cent; water, 90 per cent? carbonace-
Gus matter and other constituents, 81 II per cent
Sample from ship Chaplin was composed Of
Water, 10. 20 per cent; ammonia, 1914 per cent;
sand and earthly matter, 400 per cent; organic
cArbonacc0us matter and other constituents, .06
per cent; phosphatss, ~ go per cent.
Sample Of q specimen Of Patagonian guano, mono
Of which il imported directly here as far as know
but comes by way Of Now York: Water, l.So
earthly matter, 1000 per cent; organic carbonace
Gus matter aud other constituents, 49, "a per cent?
phosphates, 42.40 per cent
did not make tho above analysis in very elab-
oratc manncr-thst il. have not given the quanti-
ties separately Of many things Of no particular
value, such AZ onalates, &C., the enumeration Of
which convey TO the mind Of the non professional
reader no definite idea. Indeed, from many Of tho
published analyses Of guano, one cannot judge Of
IL agricultural value. When, for instance, one
number represents several different things it can
not be told how much of either il present; ii may
bel u ha L. kha Of mi auha M
and 20 its agricultural value cannot DO deter
mined.
In the above, the ammonia, already presented,
together with that capable of being formed by the
decomposition of tho elements Of the guano ID esti
mated, and its phosphoric acid, the relative guam
tity of which il shown under the head of phos
phatcs The guano also contains little chloride
suphuric acid; but il does not owe its peculiar
value TO these. have not given them separately.
Altogether, they seldom exceed five, and are some
times lens than two per cent
The frst four Of these samples are marked by
Inspection No. !, are Of Peruvian Erano, and are
sold at as per ton OF 1000 lbs, The Patagonian
guano il marked No. 2, and selis for $35 per ton.
Here arc four specimens of guano selling at tho
some price; their valuable constituents should be
equal, or nearly SO; how is the facts The Albany
contains Of ammonia Is per cent; the Greyhound,
1928 per cent; the Brooklyn, 20s per cent; the
There 10 difference Of moro than 33a per cent.
~ to the quantity Of one OF the chief constituents,
and that which gives Peruvian guano its peculiar
the phosphoric acid. showing relatively follows
The Albany, 3l.20; Greyhound. 3l.l0; Brooklyn,
1850; Chaplin, 27.60.
The difference in this Is not 20 marked, but still
sufficiently 30 Ne to make 1t subject OF care in the
purchase Of the different cargoes, being nearly ak
per cent. between the Albany and Brooklyn. The
Patagonian, selling at $3s per ton, contains but
exceed those Of tho Peruvian. When we consider
the absolute superiority of some Of the above speci
mems over the others, and the value of guano to
different soils, il ID or tho hghest importance that
il relative value should be shown by an inspection
that will cost those who use it nearly $4,000 per
year. In the report which made TO the Legisla-
lure at its last session. then insisted that the law
for tho inspection Of guano should cause to DO
stitusnts, and that thoss in guano were the am
monia already present a. salt, with that capable
Of being formed by it asotixed matter and its phos
pnGr IT, .c,d Or L .b !; rsa !,
the advice which then urged upon the Legislature
There 10 no safety In buying article by the
mere name Peruvian guano differs very much,
though It 10 frequently said to be ''ali alike Tho
Patagonian being subject to more influences involv
ing change, differs more widely. have examined
some specimens containing much ~ nine per
cent. Of ammonia; the above contains less than
The above facts. independent of any others, arc
sufficient 70 show the necessity to the agricultural
interest of inspection which will show the worth
OF tho t0lnR luop0Ctcu, winch Will convey 10 tho
mind of the purchaser what he 10 buying by show
ing the quantity of particular constituents in the
article bought.
The only remedy which can al present suggest
IL, that the prchassr should insist TIE seller guar
sntseing MS guGno to contain particular per cent
age IF ammonia and phssphoris acid and in the event
Of this per centage mot being present, then a pro
rata deduction being made. 3saz
urged that this should be provided for by the
Legislature ct its last session. have again and
again insisted that the planter and farmer should
MOI purchase the article unless the seller would
give the above guarantee. This should not be OBJ.
jecsed TO BY any honest dealer or importer; and.
again advise all not to buy guano without ar
rangsment Of this kind be entered into. In Eng
land guano il offered for sale guaranteed to contain
is per cent of ammonia, for lees price than
that which contains even less than IL per cent.
here.
There is no reason why this should be the case,
the purchaser should insist upon some guarantee
70 the quantity Of valuable matter, when buying
an article Of which neither he nor tho vonder can
know tho value. shall furnish from time to time
analyses of the various cargocs in this port until
all be completed. JAMES HIGGINS
State Agricultural Chemist.
We read In a Sheffield paper that "the last polish
70 piece ofcutlery u given By the hand Of woman
The Same may be said of human cutery--t that the