Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-03-07
experiment in the use of this root, the pres.
ent winter and let US know the result.-AL
bany Cultivator.
From the Cotton Planter.
Thoughts on GuanO.


From the Cotton Planter.
Thoughts on Guano.
DR.. CLoUD-Dear Sir: Having used
Guano for several years, have concluded
that my experience in reference to it might
not prove wholly uniuteresting, or entirely
without value to those planters OF the South
who may be, like myself, struggling with old
and badly worn plantations; and if you
think the following lines worthy of place
in your columns, they are at your disposal.
The main and only question to be deter
mined in the use Of Guano is, whether or
not it is profitable? This depends on so
many circumstances-the cost Of the guano,
the price of cotton, the kind Of lands to
which it is applied, and the manner in which
it is applied, and the manner in which the
calculation in regard to the profit, is made
that no general answer can be given. Taking
the cost Of guano at $50 per long ton,
(2240 pounds,) and cotton at present prices,
and in estimating the profit, not making any
charge for the preparation of the guano, the
application of it, or the picking out the ad
dtional quantity of cotton; but determining
it solely by the nett gain at the end of the
wear, (which is my mode of calculation, and
about which | will say word hereafter,) |
am OF opinion that it will pay. 1t is much
better adapted, though, to some lands than
others, and to the same kind of land in one
condition than another-and to this point |
will chiefly address my remarks.
As general thing, believe it will pay
better on good than inferior land; or, to par
ticularse, believe that given amount OF
guano-say 100 lbs-wil pay better on
land that will, of itself, produce 1000 pounds
to the acre, than on land that will not, of
itself, bring more than two or three hundred
pounds. My reason for supposlng so, is
this: that the land which would, unaided,
bring 1000 pounds to the acre, must possess
very considerable amount of ingredients,
out of which the cotton plant can generate
cotton; and if you give the plant additional
health and vigor, by supplying it with food
so easily obtained as guano, you strengthen
and increase its organs, make it more
hardy feeder, or greater consumer OF the
ingredients found in abundance in this bet
ter soil, than the same amount Of guano
could on poorer soil, where these ingredl-
ents were wanting. This, though, is only
theory with me, as | have never given it a
fair test; and, even if had established it.,
beyond doubt, by successful experiment, it
would result in but little good to the mass Of
cotton planters, as not many plant land oil
such high productiveness.
Nearly all of my experiments have been
made on old and worn lands, the most of
which were originally good. None are so
badly worn or exhausted, though, as not to
produce vegetation when at rest-some bet.
ter, some worse. This is the third year |
have tried it, and am well enough satisfied
with the result as to continue its use. Some
acres though, am certain, will not pay ex.
penses. On the bald clay spots, and wherever
the soil is poor and sandy to any depth, and
had not been rested the year before, it has
not done well, and worse on the sandy than
clay soil. Even in some sandy places, which
had the advantage of rest, doubt if it will
pay, yet on others, apparently no better, it
has yielded finely. do not intend though
to desist using it on the clay spots, as it
! benefits the Cotton to some extent, and If
rested the year after will, think, improve
the growth of vegetation, and thereby i'm
prove the land.
MY idea in regard to the manner in which
the Cotton is benefited by guano on the
kinds of lands plant, is in afording the
plant sustenance at once, thereby giving it
sufficient health and constitution to enable it
to manufacture or grow Cotton out of the
coarse and somewhat indigestible food found
in the soil, which it could not do unaided by
euano, or some other concentrated fertilizer.
If it has to subsst, without any assistance,
in this poor and worn soil, as a natural con.
sequence it will be delicate and sickly-
possessing small short roots, and its diges
tive organs will remain during its entire
growth too feeble to consume this coarse
food found in the soil. If you enable the
plant to take up this food, very important
object is accomplished.
As to the general impression that Guano
is exhausling to land, and will ultimately in.
lure it, cannot speak from experience; but
my opinion is, that if it is injurious to land,
it is in the manner Just mentioned-in i'm
parting additional health and vigor to the
cotton plant, or to whatever else it is applied,
and thereby enabling it to take up more
nourishment from the soil than it otherwise
would. do not believe, if it is properly
applied that it possesses in itself any pro.
perty injurious to the land, but its effect is
indirect instead of direct have all of the
land on which used it last year guanoed
this year, and discover no difference be-
tween it and the rest of the field, which was
guanoed, for the first time, this year. The
course expect to pursue is not to apply it
to the same land longer than one or two
years, as have more than twice as much
cleared and under fence as can plant in
corn and cotton.
In estimating the profit on the use of gu
ano, my reason for not otincluding its prepara-
ton, the application of it, or the picking out
the additional quantity of cotton, is simply
this: that it is all performed by the same
number of hands, &c, as it would have
taken to have made crop without it. 1t is
the amount OF interest alone which the plan.
ter makes on the capital he has invested in
land, negroes, mules and fixtures for the ma
king of cotton, that it is to be taken into
consideration, and if he has more clear
money at the end of the year by using GU
ano than hy not usinp it. the extra amount