The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-16
GuuIlO.

u
sippi, we cited the statement of the writer Of
the principal lelter-the Hon. A. b. DAVIS, of
Maryland-ln reference to the importation of
guano in 1874, as the first arrival Of that ma
nure in the United States. A friend has since
informed us that this Impression is erroneous,
and. in confirmation Of the remark, has handed
To us copy of a letter received by President
MONROE from Commodore STEWART, of the
United States navy, as far back as 1923; from
which it appears that the Commodore, while in
command Of the squadron in the Pacific, be-
came acquainted with the ferilizing properties
of guano, and at the time took steps to intro
duce it to the notice of the agriculturiss OF this
country. The following are the material por-
tons Of the letter.
"UNITgp STATES SHIP FnANKLIN,
VALPARAISO, March -, 1928
"DEAR Sin have taken the liberty to transmit
TO YOU (va New Bedford, care of William r
Rotch) a barrel of wheat from Ariqucpa. Upper
Peru. 1t is only within few years that wheat has
been rasied in that province. but it proves remark
able for it's wcctness well whitcness when
manufactured into bread. have therefore,
deemed it worth an experiment in our country,
and knowing the interest you take in agricultural
pursuits, send this sample in the hope that it will
arrive in time to enable you to make experiment
next year
"There lie u species of manure in use in Peru
called oUANo, or huano in Spanish, which 10 ex
dance at two three places islands on the coast
where it ID obtained for trihe; but under present
circumstances, war existing IT Is sometimes sold in
Ariquepa as. high eight dollars the fanago,
(about two bushels 1t is 30 strong manure that
they put but one spoonful on every other hill OF
corn. 1t is used in the fields. gardens, and ese-
where, and it is said will destroy keep of insects
of all kinds. l have, therefore, thought 1t would
be effectual against grub worm and the He's
sian fly, which would be great acquisition to our
country, az ship-load of il could be got without
difficulty. ] shall take the first opportunity of
procuring some barrels of it, and forwarding it to
the United States
al remain your excellency's most obedent SER
want, (Signed) CHARLES STEWART.
"To his excellency JAMES MosRoE,
President of the United States.'
The exact date of the arrival of the guano
does not appear, but General SKINNER, in his
TURNER'S Library for July, 1915, states that
in the spring of lS25-twenty years previous
he received from the President the two barrels
forwarded by the Commodore, and distributed
their contents amongst some of the most intel
lgent farmers in the eastern States, who re-
ported favorable results. No measures were
taken, however, to procure a further supply,
nor was any thing more heard Of guano until 1889
or 1910, when few bags were carried t. Eng
land for experiment.
We now append Mr.. DAvIs's letter:
"GnEEswooD, MosrsomERY Co.. MD,
March %, 1852.
"DEAR sIR: had the honor, by Saturdays
mall to receive your favor OF the 10Th instant, en-
closing letter to you from the Hon. John ID. Free
man, Representative in Congress from the State OF
Mississippi. asking of you information as TO the
supply. use, and cost Of guano in this State, and
what it will cost landed at Mobile or New Or
leans, which information you ask Inc to give.
80 take great pleasure in giving, 90 FAR as IT Is
in my power, the desired information.
- thnA x.nn INN
merabe sea-iowl, and come aInphibious animals
whose food consist almost entirely Of marine shells
and fish, chiefly upon islands in the South Pa
oifc ocean. IL has been preserved in it, greatest
purity near the Peruvian coast, from the remark
able phenomena of the most total absence Of rain
moisture, both coastwise and inland in con-
siderable portion Of that country. Other guanos
have been found south OF Peru and recently a
Mexican guano has been introduced into the port
Of Baltimore, but whether from the Pacific or q u.i
coas. have not learned. All of these-the Chi
Ian, Patagoniap, and Mexican-have been pro-
Dounced by chemists (ond experiment, 80 lar as
my observation extends, confirms the correctness
Of the opinion) inferior TO the Peruvian, doubtless
owing TO the presence Of rain and moisture in all
those countries, which is almost, before stated,
totally unknown upon tho coast OF Peru.
''Its use in Peru manure has been long
known; but its apple alton il Immediately followed
10y irrigation, Inch L. necessary in that hot and
ard country for the development OF It's tcrtizlng
power. lie introduction into England and the
United States ia OF very recent date. The hrst
cargo imported into Bslumoro--it being. believe,
the frat In the United Statcs-was in the year 1874
IL was at first used with caution, and in very linn
itcd Quantities, from the tWoiOld reason Of fret,
its high cost and, secondly, tie doubt with prac-
teal farmers Of the possibility Of 90 small guam
tiiy Of dust excrting such wonderful power upon
vegetation ss IL was represented to DO
81 believe the honorable scnnt tor Pearce, Of Kent
county; Colonel Capron OF Laurel, Prince George
county; and Edward staber, Of Sandy Spring, in
this (Montgomery) county, have the honor Of be
ing the fret, among the first. In THE State, 10
give the result Ct their experiments 20 the public.
Thesc will be found I'm the first volume OF the Far.
no's Library, and the fret volume. new serios, OF
the 4rnr,can Fwner, and are Interesting as we'll
for the general success of the first apple iton OF
guano, ss for the failure transient benefit in
some OF the experiments then made. The failure
then, az yell az the failure Of similar experiments
since made is now vel understood 10 rcsult from
too supo,fc,ai application Of the guauo. Moisture
here, as well "a moisture in Peru, has been found
10y experience necessary 20 its full development.
This 10 obtained here by boryinr the gusno With
the plough several inches below the surface Of the
coil, and beyond the influence Of the Sun and dry
ing winds 20 which our climate is subject Some
lUdiciOps practical farmers say eight or ten inches
u not too doep. though have practical expert
eDce myseli in 40 great depth. am confident
that depth Of less than four inches In climate,
Tor summer crop, will hazard the expected bene
at from lie
"sincc the succossfol experiment Of Mr.. sisbler
upon his single OF wheat detailed in hs letter
OF September, lS45, already referred 10, from the
eppnCsuon OF ihe previous eufufnns tnc zee OF
gusno hss steadily and rapidly incres.ed in tins
county, ss well os in the lower and tide water
counties, both the eastern and western shore Of
the Chesapeake; and IL has also rapidly extended
into the State OF Virginia. From single cargo In
1sii. and bot two three in lst5, brooght into the
port Of Baltimore, such hss been the popularity Of.
aud growing demand for, this wonderful manure,
that during the year ls5l-s period Of only seven
years from it's fret introdociOn-the import into
the same porr had run up 30 tho large quantity Of
25 900 tone which oil cold at the ah price Of
from sac TO s4s per legal ton from the vessel.
In this couptv-vith population Of less than sin.
teen tbousand souls-from tho small experiment
already referred TO, and two others not
given 10 the public. last year at least 500 tons,
~ coat Of $1,000, we're bought by far
ncrs. The result has been an increase since lst5
Of At lesst two hundred per cent upon the whest
crop-ihc crop TO which u 10 chiefly applied. Upon
old worn out land. long considered worthless, the
elect has in many instances been magical frc
quentiy producing from twenty 10 twenty five
bushels OF wheat from single Application Of $50
lie Ter acre, where not return Tor the sced sown
could have been expected before. Wheat, you arc
aware, isa winter crop, 10 seeded during the az.
fumn months Of September and October, and some
iiues "a late as November, and natures the latter
end Of June and first OF July; consequently the
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