Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-08
AGRICULTURAL.
GUANO.

Every year, says the Soil of the South,
is introducing this article into more ex-
tended and varied use, and we have felt
anxious to put our readers into possession
of all the information which we could COM
mand, as the result Of actual experiment,
in its application of the various crops of the
South. We have made some trials of ii,
and may be permitted to report our success,
and tho impressions made by our short ex-
perience. In the year 1852, we made some
tests on a very small scale. This, it will be
recollected, was in this region of country, a
wet, or we might more properly say, a spring
and summer of good seasons, no doubt of
muchconsequence whilethe crop was growing.
This, we think, was peculiarly favorable for
the action of the guano. Our experiments
we're made upon corn and cotton, varying
the quantity from forty, to one hundred and
twenty pounds to the acre. The results
we're most gratifying, especially with the
latter quantity, with which gypsum or plas-
ter Of Paris was used. The increased pro-
duction of each crop was such asto make the
remuneration very large, for the cost Of ma
t%erials used. We were almost afraid to
say all that it had done, as we then judged
that the very favorable character Of the sea-
son had produced results beyond what might
be anticipated under ordinary circumstances,
and that our success might lead others to
expect too much. Our faith, however, was
strong enough to induce a farther trial, and
VIC had ten tons dropped at our landing last
spring, for the use of the plantation. This
was used mainly on the cotton crop, in con-
nectiou with the gypsum, in the proportion
Of four parts Of guano, to one of plaster or
gypsum. We give our method Of applica-
ton, the quantity used, and the result of
all our experiments. One hundred and
twenty-five acres Of cotton were MANFRED at
the rate of one hundred and fifty pounds to
the acre. three acres, every poor land with
three hundred pounds, and one acre Of
good river land, with four hundred pounds,
in oil which the gypsum was used. The
manner Of applying was in the drill. Pre-
paratory to bedding, u furrow was opened
with "a long scooter pillow, in this the guano
and gypsum, which had been previously well
mixed, was strewu by hand, and on this the
bed was formed with a turning pillow. This
preparation was all made only few days
before planting. When ready to plant, 9
small furrow was made in the top Of th'
bed, in which the seed were sewed, anc
covered in the usual way. The dry weather
as we now recollected, had commenced be
fore this, but the cotton came up, looked
we'll, as indeed did almost all our cotton
The benefit thus far, was not very percepti
bic, a little advantage only, in favor of tn
guano, except on the river land, which be
ing more moist, showing moro benefit
Thus, it moved along, showing no very grea
superiority, until the rains began, whic
was pretty late in the season. Then Their
was a decided improvement, but not such a
we hal expected. The dry and warm wealth
or had continued SO long, as in our opinion
TO waste much Of the fertilizing propertie
Of the guano, before the rain setin. Never
theless there wasa small per cent profit Of
the investment, as will be shown by the Sc
auel. From the best accounts which W
were able to get from the oversoer, tha
which had been MANFRED with one hundre
and Fifty pounds, at cost Of about 80 pc
acre, produced a gain of at least one hume
red pounds Of lint or ginned cotton; thu
with three hundred pounds costing abol
SO produced a gain of one hundred an
fhy or seyenty-fve pounds; and the rive
land With four hundred pounds Of guam
and a proper proportion of gypsum, costir