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


seem to be unirendly TO OF the Y luabIe suits
contained in guano. But with bone dust, barn.
yard, and stable manure, II acts promptly and
powerfully. The fncst crop of wheat ever made
vas from a dressing OF guano and bone dust, and
the finest crop OF timothy ever saw was from n
like combination.
"Various opinions exist as 10 tue Durability of
guano manure. Some farmers claim for il
an influence through whole course or rotation of
crops while others insist that they BEN
EFT beyond the first crop TO which il is applied IL
would seem to be unreasonable to expect long
continued or permanent benefit from SO slight
dressing from two to three hundred pounds of
manure per acre, after 30 prompt and large re-
turn as guano always gives, when judiciousy APP
piled, from the hrst crop. Yet am quite comb
dent that have seen a marked influence upon the
second crop of clover in the third after its
application to the wheat crop. Something, how
ia certainly due to the character OF the soil to
which it is applied Upon moist, compact ciays,
it not only acts more powerfully, but lis influence
is longer seen while upon light, sandy soils, 1t
gives Lees return, and its after. benefit is sooner
ex haused. Upon limestone land, with which
have no experience, II 10 said not to act SO we'll
perhaps from the same cause which renders fresh
~ lined land uniriendly to its action.
al have thus, at some length, and fear tedious
ly, given you account Of the source whence OBJ
tanned, the and mode Of application, and, as
the best evidence Of its value the growing demand
and popularity among our farmers-a body OF
shrewd, practical intelligent men, industrious and
economical III their habits, and little disposed To
waste money upon useless doubtful objects.
~ will now proceed to answer General Free.
mans last inquiry, to where il can be best pro-
cured, and 'at what expense landed at Mobile
New Orleans
GAS before stated, the original source Of supply
OF the BEST guano ia the coast of Peru II ia ned
by the government, and let to contractors, who
pay bonus per ton for the privilege OF digging
and sending it abroad for sale. These contractors
reside in Callao, and sell it here through the agen
cy of commission houses. Up to the present year.
there have been two agents in this country for the
aHlp nfP rfIvap Ulo in Neu Nnr md nna
in Baltimore, where by far the largest quantity
Tor upon the Chesapeake and its tributaries) has
been disposcd Of The agents here prefer to sell it
by the cargo or in large lots; and it Is eagerly
bought up by dealers, who retail ii at profit cor
responding with the supply in the market. have
known this proft at periods Of scarcity, without
| any advance upon the import price, to run up to
the handsome sum of fifteen dollars per ton,
thirty six per cent advance. 1t is now, at period
Of great abundance in market and considerable
competition among dealers, retailing at about
twelve per cent profit upon the import price, which
lie now fixed by the present, and. as understand,
sole agent in the United States-M Riley, of New
York-at the following rates.
For SO tons of a,24o lbs, per ton S4s 90
- IW ~ w
:" 300 - 46 90
at four the, discount of per cent. for cash.
which is equivalent to per cent, the legal rate of
interest in New York. Thus, the farmers who can
not conveniently unite upon so large quantity as
300 tons, will have to pay from to per cent
more than the dealers, II bought directly from the
agent importer, from IL to SO per if they
rely alone upon the dealers
"In all instances where practicable, although
at some disadvantage, l would advise that pur-
chascs be made directly from the importer. IL ID
not only cheaper, but safer to do 90. Some Of the
dealers advertise Patogonion well Peruvian
guano; and now Mexican 10 also introduced. In
thi, state Of things, when one kind is in high
quest and another dull Of SALE the temptation ia
strong to mix the inferior with the superior,
otherwise TO adulterate the Peruvian-the better
unfortunately De
10 a considerable extent without detection, until
il IA too late too troublesome To obtain redress
for the fraud. The inspection in this State affords
no protection against adulteratioD; II is rather
protection to fraud-a burden without n benefit.
do not wish 10 be understood charg ing fraudu
lent sales upon any Of our dealers in guano. Hav-
ing always myself purchased directly from the i'm
porter, have reason TO do My object is only
10 point out the course Of the trade. and the advan
tsges and Disadvantages which attend it. | know
no reason, however, why dealers in guano should
be suppose TO be lees liable TO ten possess
a higher degree morality than dealers in drugs
who have been charged before Congress with extern
Give adulteration Of articles md medicines intended
TO cure the ills which nesh lie heir to'-a degree Of
cupidity and fraud which fhould be punished with
the seyerest penalty the law can intiict. Whether
II IL in the power OF Congress TO protect the humble
culuvators Of the coil from like imposition is a
question which leave for you aud General Free
man and your honorable coadjutors 10 decide.
"Wbst the oost Of guano would be, landed at
Mobile or New Orleans ] have not the means Of
knowing, the cement OF the sole
depot in the city OF New York The price In New
York having been already shown, 10 that ~ill have
TO be added freight, Insurance, and whatever port
duties may be charged in the southern cities. The
freight from Baltimore 10 the cities upon the Poo
mac and James rivers has ranged from rs cents to
! per ton; sometimes higher even than the latter
sum. Insurance per cent; enccting same from /.
to ! per cent. From these data General Frocmsn's
better acquaintance with the charges between New
York and the South will enable him 10 iorm pref
~ correct opinion OF the cost Of the article In Mo
bile or New Orleans.
although this letter has already extended to
length beyond what intended, will avail myself
OF the occasion TO make few general observations
upon the subject.
"From the tenor OF G eneral Frecman's inquiries,
infer that his object IL 10 try the effect Of guano
upon the great staple Of the Soutb-the cotton
plant
"If his experiment shall prove successful, which
cannot dJubt, II jujiciously spplied-seeing that
IL has been long used In a warmer and much more
arid climate than NJ issssippi, or the other Southern
statos-it will at once very much enlarge the de
msnd ior and consumption OF the article; like all
other articles Of commerce, under such circumstan
Gee, iis cost may be expected % increase.
IAN interesting subject Of inquiry. then, is-can
the usc and consumption Of guano in this country
be extended without carrying With Il correspond
ing increase In priccf !. may be said that ar
ticle which Yields 80 large and prompt a return IL
intrinscally worth great deal, and will fairly
bear high price. This is true 70 come extent, and
secms 20 be just and plausible, looking at one
]
blight and disappointment We have rust and
mildcv,' "a ia Oldcn timcs And have not yet
seen that guano even is barrier against, PAM
cea for, the blighung effect OF precarous climate
or unlocked Tor casualties 10 which the husband
msn's crops are constantly liable. Reruat. then,
a. well ss success, should be taken into the &C.
count ia estimating the vsloe Of gusno. In this
view, am OF opinion that II js nov high, even
higher than IL ought 10 be. Ind ought not 90 be in
creased. The deposit in Peru being inerbsvsti.
BILE, ss II is conceded 10 bo-consequeDty short
supply therc-there ia no reason Why IL should be
increased In price here, or Why IL should not be
reduced TO point Of reasonable profit and just
muncratioa. That IL IL much too high, a
little reflection will show. Coal is mined
In the mountains Of Maryland and Pennsy lvsnis,
transported ON canals and railroads two
hundred miles 10 tide.uatcr, paying high freight
and toll, rsnsbipped. and cold in New York
Al from 80 20 10 81 90 per ton; u is mined
at depth Of several hundred feet below the
surface, transported inland trsnshipped at Liver.
pool, brought across the ocean, and sold at about
SO per ton u New York. Can IL be possible then,
that goano--the free and bounteOus gilt Of ma.
turc-vith no inland transportation, easily dug
and shoyelled poured from its elevated position
directly down into the hold Of the largest ships, al
though Il may have 20 traverse the ocean three
four times = far a from Ifverpool 10 New York.