The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-16
GUANO.
The Washington Republic saws

we nave TeCSiVSu from the NOD. John IL. r rec
man. of Mississippi, note enclosing an interesting
statement OF the nature supply land cost ofthe
article kaown under the name of guano extensively
used fertilizer in some counties OF the State of
Mary and This statement is from the pen of the
Hon. Allen Bowie Davis, OF Montgomery county,
Maryland is addressed to the Hon Joseph S. Cot
man. Of the S ate, and has been prepared, it
would SEEM at the request OF Mr.. Freeman, who
proposes to apply this fertilizing agent to the
hau.ted lands of the State OF Mississippi The Pc
ruvan guano is stated the best of the various
kinds imported and ii is believed that the first
go ever imported into the United States arrived in
the city of Baltimore in the year 1874 Mr.. Davis
has exalted opinion of the virtues of guano, and
suggests hat it should be sowed ON poor lands at
depth of not less than four inches, though some
farmers, he says, think that eight ten inches is
not too deep. Moisture is found by experience to
be necessary to its full development, and it is well
to mix peck of plaster of Paris with bag of the
guano weighing one hundred and sixty pounds. 1t
Is found by experience greatly to stimulate the
growth OF wheat, corn, rye, oats, buckwheat, and
garden vegetables.
We shall be happy to give this interesting docu-
ment Ia full at early period, the demands upon
our columns will admit of it.
Remarks. That Guano is wonderful ferti-
lizer, there can be no doubt That there are
persons who have failed in the application Of
it, 10 particular tracts of land is likewise true.
To such persons we say try itagain. Proba-
bly, you may succeed better the next time, and
we can give you very substantial reason for
hoping that such may be the fact. Listen
awhile, and we will tell you why we think SO.
There is hardly a reader Of the Dispatch,
who has not heard of Mr.. Richard Sampson,
of Goochland, one of the best-we suspect the
rery best-of Virginia farmers. We beg par
don of the gentleman for Introducing his name
into the public prints, but his example is con.
we do il for the sake of that class of the com.
munity. Well, as we were going on to say,
we happened to be at MIR. SIMPSONS house a
short time since, and rode with him into his
lower-grounds. He, it is well known, is man
who always gives every new suggestion with
regard to farming fair trial. He tried the lime
and he thought it failed to have the proper ef-
feet. He tried the guano on bis thin land and
it acted like charm. At the same time, from
the same cargo, and under the same crcum-
stances, he tried il on his low-greunds, and it
had no effect a, all. Very nationally, we think,
he came TO the conclusion that nature did not
intend that the low land should be richer Than
it was-that it had reached the maximum of
it's fertility-and he determined to waste no
more guano on that portion of his plantation.
but to scatter it all on his high land. 1t han.
pened, however. that he had aremnantleft last
year, and he scattered it on about half an acre
OF his low grounds, just by way Of an additional
experiment. or it might be by way of getting
rid OF il. He was amazed at the result There
is all the difference in the world in the appear.
ance of that part of the field which is euanoed
and that which is not, He is utterly unable 70
account for the reason why it should have
failed SO entirely before, and succeeded so tho.
roughly now. He thinks he must have made
some blunder. but he cannot tell what il was.
He says that it has determined him to make
another experiment with the lime. MI. Samn.
son is right beyond all doubt. A great fertiIi.
ger may, by possibility, fail. at one time. and
succeed at another.