The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-04-19

lumbia, was not forwarded to me un-
til yesterday. I fear now that my
answer will reach you too late, es-
pecially if you wish to apply guano
to your corn. For many hereabouts
have planted or nearly done; I am
not half done. But to begin with
my answer.
For two years I mixed four bush
els of dry sand with one bushel of gu
ano: This year to save trouble, I
will mix two bushels of sand to one of
guano. Fine charcoal taken from
the rail road, blacksmith shop, or
coal kiln is excellent, because, like
Gypsum, it will retain the ammon-
ia--any dry fine dirt will do as we'll
as sand. My object for mixing is to
increase the quantity to be put into
each row of cotton, 80 that it can
be put down more accurately by
dull and careless hands.
My mode of mixing is this. I take
for the purpose some dry shed-free
from the wind is better, for it may
mix and blow away much of it. 1
then take coarse iron seive and
sift layer Of sand, and, on that,
layer of guano, until Z get it
all mixed for the field. If the sand
or earth is damp it will cause evapo.
ration and loss When thus pre-
pared you may put it into the
ground just before you plant, or o
month before-if put under the seed
of corn or cotton, it should be cover
ed by the plough or hoe two, three
or four inches, so that when you
put the seed in the ground over it,
there may be two or four inches be.
tween the seed and guano; for if
they come in contact it will kill the
seed, but by the time the roots reach
it, it will be diffused in the soil and
nourish, and not destroy it.
I have only once tried it on
an acre of corn--i it was q very unEa-
vorable year for corn, being dry
put tablespoonful (not heaping) of
guano in each bill, and covered it
with fresh earth, and the corn was
then covered about two inches. The
adjoining acre was 1nanured as usual
with stable manure and cotton seed
mixed.
Tho acre manurcd with stable ma
nure and cotton seed was 7 or
s inches high, while that manured
with guano was so small, and so
wretched that I had some idea of
cutting it up and replanting them.
1t rained, and in one week after
wards the guanoed corn was as
large as the other, and soon be-
came larger, and with much stout
er stalks; and continued much the
largest, yielding much better fod-
dcr-but the produce Of corn was
about the same, each acre producing
between 16 and II bushels. I plan
ted in S feet rows, the stalks two
feet apart. A tablespoonful a hill
will take from $50 to 200 lbs. But
ifI were intending to use guano
on corn would not put the guano to
it until it was up, and at the first
ploughing run bull tongue near the
corn, and sprinkle the guano op-
posite the corn-a tablespoonful on
each side might do, or half a table
spoonful on each side. It must be
followed by another plough and cov-
cred Immediately. I have heard of
much less doing. I have never
made any other experiment with corn.
a bushel of guano weighs 50 lbs.
Now for Cotton.
On Cotton I have used guano
for 3 years.
The first year my experiment was
a small one, but clearly showed the
Importance Of guano.
In 1851, manured twenty acres
old worn out red lands with two hun.
dred pounds guano to the acre. 1t
yielded.
lst Picking 900 lbs.
Sd I" 1895