The Hillsborough recorder., 1855-08-15

SeHilciidh VI W ilinlHEtOn, DeaWarc, mas
given us the following account Of the use of
guano, under his own direction, as well as
the experience of others, IN the State Of De-
laware, which will be valuable to those who
are desious Of experimenting with this lerti-
liizer. No experiments can be satisfactory
but those made with genuine Guano. The
gentlemen in Delaware are particular in se-
curing the true article, aud reliance therefore
is to be placed upon their statements.
II have postponed answering your queries
with regard to guano, in order to submit them
to some Of the best farmers of this neighbor-
hood, whom was to meet yesterday. The
general result Of their answers is, that the el-
feet of guano is in inverse ratio to the rich
ness of the soil. On the rich farms of Ches-
ter county, Pennsylvania, guano has not been
much tried, as they have no need of il, and
when tried, gave unsatisfactory results. On
the contrary, on the naturally fertile land,
but exhausted BY niudcous cultivation, Of
our lower counties, it has produced very good
and durable effects. Mr.. Bryan Jackson, an
intelligent agriculturist and practical farmer,
informs me that an application of 500 pounds
guano per acre produced on his place crop
of wheat equal TO the one grown on the same
land with seventeen cart loads Of barn yard
manure. lie had the ground plowed deep
previously to spreading the guano, aud had
il COVERED by another shallow ploning. He
states that he obtained no results of guano
for oats or barley. However one of my neigh
bors gets good crops on poor land in which
he plows guann. | was alsu informed that
crup Of corn of 20 bushels TO the acre had
been obtained on poor land lrom mixture of
guano and plaster, at the rate Of handful in
each hill, put in before dropping the seed
This is only ON hearsav. My own experience
with this manure dates from ten or eleven
years ago, when tried il for wheat with very
good results, and obtained the best wheat
where the most guano had been laid on. The
next year, having a new grass field that had
given very short crop at the first cutting,
applied on twelve acres Of it a top-dressing
nf one ton Of ichaboe guano, mixed with e
quail bulk Of plaster. The result was, for the
following year, a crop Of upwards Of two tons
OF hay 10 the acre on the twelve acres which
had been top dressed, while il was quite light
on the part that had received nothing. Hay>
/ ing top.drcssed the remainder OF the field in
the same way, il became quite equal to the
first part. have had thai field moved or pas
ture1 six years before il was necessary to
| plow il again. Since then am so satisfied
with this fertilizers efficacy that do not
experiment upon it. use it in conjunc-
ton with stable manure. plowing II down.
except for ruia baga aud other turnips. for
which cover It with slight narrowing, and
also for top.drcssing wheat stubble, at the
rate Of 500 pounds per acre mixed with equal
bulk Of plaster. For this operation ! wait
rainy weather, in order to have the guano
Immediately washed in the grnund II is,
however, desirable To have il performed early,
in order to LET The clover and uther grass gri
strong enough 10 withstand the peraieious IN.
fuence oi winter.
On the whole | think guano is most in.
valuable on exhausted soils to produce straw,
! folders, &C., or to enable the farmer to in
crease his manure. but That when applied ex.
clusi,cly to The production Of grain, without
combining with il stable manure or green
crops, as believe is dune in some parts oi
the country, twill ultimately leave the lands
in q worse state III exhaustion than ever.