The daily union., 1852-04-14


DEAR SIR | enclose to you an answer TO your inqu
ries in relation TO guano from Hon. Allen Bowie Davis
OF Montgomery county, Maryland. which think will be
satisfactory and gratifying TO you aud venture TO sug
gest to you TO have il printed for circulation
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
JOSEPH s. COTTMAN.
GREEswoop, Montgomery County. Nd.
March 30, 1852.
DEAR had the honor. by Saturdays mail, TO
ceve your favor OF the 26h instant enclosing letter
to you from the Hon. John ID. Freeman. representative
in Congress from the State OF Mississippi asking Of
information TO the supply. and cost Of guano in
this State, and what will cost landed al Mobile or New
Orleans which information you ask me to give.
take great pleasure IN giving, so far as Il IS IN my
power the desired information.
Guano, you aware, is the deposite oil innumerabe
fowl and some amphibous animals whose food con-
ssts almost entirely OF marine shells and hsh chiefly
upon islands in the South Pacific ocean II has been
preserved in It's greatest purity near the Peruvian coast
from the remarkable phenomena OF The most total absence
OF rain moisture, both coastwse and inland, in
siderable portion oil that country Other guanos have
been found south OF Peru; and, recently Mexican
guano has been introduced into the port OF Baltimore,
but whether from the Pacific Gulf coast have not
learned. All OF thcse-the Gillian, Patagonan, and
Mexcan-have been pronounced by chemists (and ex-
pertinent, so far my observation extends confirms the
correctness OF the oplnion) inferior TO the Peruvian,
doubtless owing to the of rain and moisture in
all those countries, which rs almost, before stated
totally unknown upon the coast OF Peru.
Its use in Peru manure has been long known
but its application is Immediately followed by irrigation.
which necessary in that hot and arid country Tor the
development OF lis ierlizlng power It's introduction
into England and the United States OF very date
The FIRST cargo imported into Baltimoreii being be.
eve, the first the United Staeswas the year ls44
II first used with caution and in very limited guam
titles, from the wofod Of first its high cost, and.
secondly, the doubt with practical farmers OF the posi-
bility OF so small quantity of "dusp' exerting such
wonderful power upon vegetation as was represented
TO do.
believe the honorable Senator Pearce, OF Kent
county Col Capron, OF LAUREL Prince Georges county,
and Edward Stabler OF Sandy Spring, in this (Mont-
gomery) county, have the honor OF being the first, or
among the hrst in this State TO give The result Of their
experiments to the public These will be found in the
first volume OF the Farmers Library, and the first vol
ume, series, OF the American Farmer and in
teresng well for the general Of the first ap
plcaton OF guano, tor the failure transient benefit
in some oil the experiments then made. The failure
then, well the failure OF similar experiments since
made is now well understood to result from loo super
fcfai application oil the guano. Moisture here, as well
moisture In Peru has been lound by experience
sary TO its full development. This is obtained here by
buryng the guano with the plough several inches below
the surface of the SOIL and beyond the influence OF the
and drying winds TO which our climate is subject.
Some judicous practical farmers say eight or ten inches
is not too deep. though have no practical experience
myself in great depth | am confident that depth
OF less than four inches in climate Tor summer
crop. will hazard the expected benefit from its use.
Since the successful experiment OF Mr.. Stabler upon
his single OF wheat detailed in his letter OF Septem-
ber ls45 already referred to- from the application OF the
previous autumn, the of guano has steadily and
rapidly increased in this county ~ well as in the lower
and tide water counties, both the eastern and western
shore OF the Chesapeake and has also rapidly extended
into the State OF Virginia From single cargo in 1874,
and but three in is45, brought into the port Of
Baltimore such has been the popularity Of and growing
demand for this wonderful manure, that during the year
is5la period OF only years rem its first niroduc
honhe import into the same port had run ap 10 the large
quantity Of $4,000 tons, which all sold at the high
price OF from $40 to S4s per legal ton from the vessel
In this county-with population OF less than l6 900
sousfrom the small experiment already referred to- and
one or two others not given to the public last year at
least 500 tons, at cost OF 5000. bought by
our farmers The result has been increase since ls45
OF least hundred per cent upon the wheat crop
the crop which it is chiefly applied. Upon old worn
out land long considered worthless, the effect has in
many instances been magical, frequently producing from
twenty twenty five bushels OF wheat from single ap
pcaon of $50 lbs. per acre, where not return for
the seed could have been expected before Wheat,
you are aware 10 winter crop, is seeded during the
autumn months Of September and October, and some.
times late November and natures the latter end OF
June and first Of Julyconsequently the low temperature
and moisture OF the winter season. being favorable TO the
action Of guano ntervenes between The termination and
maturity OF that crop, and hence Its powerful action
thereon. The usual mode Of application is TO separate