Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-12-11
~ Hs
GuANO.

| Wi The nature and uses of this substance
! every one is familiar But when and how it
is obtained, and other facts connected with
the sources Of supply, are no, SO we'll known
land rs guano has been productive of cof.-
siderable public excitement of late, chap
ter upon the subject may no, be devoid Of in.
;etest
II is common impression that tho dis
coveIy or fer'ilizing properties Of guano has
quite recently made, and that j, is only with
in few years that it has come into use
this is by no means the case. II has been
used BY the Peruvians ever cince the discov-
cry OF America, having been imported by
them from The Islands on the coast. Hum.
boldt was one Of the first who carried il 10
Europe and brought it into notice on that
continent. This must have been al least
thirty years since. It was first introduced
into this country in 1925, but was not used
10 any extent, and was soon forgotten. L,
was no, until it was very extensively en-.
ployed in England, that it was again import.
&c into his country. Even now very little.
comparatively, is used here, as will be seen
by the following statement Of the import.
for three years: -
| lS49 oIo,o ton.
| iooo ll,740
1881 23,l53 "
The importation Of this article into England
amounts at the present time 10 nol far from,
200, 600 tons per year.
Guano is found upon barren islands on tho
coasts of Peru, Bolivia, Chill and Patagonia
II is sometimes met with on The headlands
Of the coast, That from the coast of Peru
and Bolivia is by far the best for the reason
that rain seldom visits hose latitudes. That
derived from islands farther south being frc.
| quenlly eaturatcd with moisture, is partially
decomposed, and has raaeh OF its feItilizing
! properties washed away.
Guano consists of the excrements Of sea
birds, inle;mixed with the bones of fishes,
the tleshy parts OF which have served them
for food, the shells of eggs, and The remains
OF The birds themselves--all Of which are
partially decomposed and mixed ,oge,her.--.
It accumulates rapidly, first, because tho
swarus Of birds of which i, is the product
y, III
very rarely washed by rains. The quantity
OF the deposIes on some OF the islands is al.
most Incredible. II is stated by Mr.. Wilson,
formerly British consul at Peru, that on The
Chncha Observation-Disclosures more than
three hundred tons a year have been taken
away for use in Peru for centuries, and of
late years many thousands of tons-- it is esti-
mated that there is still remaining the enor..
nous quantity Of 100000 tons. An off,
cial survey CT several Islands claimed by
Peru was made in 1927, from which is was
asserlained that there were on them over
2S,oo0,oQo tons--encugh at the present rate
OF consumption 10 slpEy tie world one hun.
dred and seventy yeas
In some places on the Chincha Islands the
guano is two hundred feet thick, and il va.
ries from that thickness down to three OF
four feet. Il occurs in successive horizontal
strata, each of which is from three TO ten
inches thick. The lower strata is of dark
brown color, growing lghter towards the
cuface. No earthly matter is found in these
vast deposites.
At the time Of The first introduction of
guano TO the world, it was generally supposed
TO exist only on the coast of Peru and the adj
jacent islands. But It's value stimulated
search, and deposi,es of a similar character
were found On The coast Of Patagonia, and on
portions Of the coast of Africa. Near the
latter in the island of lcha Doe was discovered
10 be covered with this valuable fertilizer,
from which large quantities were procured
. Bu, the island being accessible to the whole
, world without restriction, there was quite q
, scramble for the article, and the euano was
q soon removed. II has been stated that there
n were at one time over 200 vessels loading
:. lchaboe.
! The manner OF loading guano is usually &c
c haul the vessel under cid, if practicable
or if not the ships boat, aud fill up by means
Of chute or long canvass bag open at both
IS ends, and leading f;on the top OF the cliff tc
q the hold OF the vessel or into The boat The
l. work proceeds with great rapidIty when op
n era,ions have fairly commenced --Bosto'
g Journal.