Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-06-07
agricultural.
GUANo CONVENTION.

ItIuFluU " uduO, anu Il convention WAS
recommended to be held in the city of
Wilmington on the 18th of March; to
which the Agricultural Societies of the
neighboring States were requested to
send delegates. to consult upon the sub
ject. The brief space allotted for the
action of the societies, prevented the
attendance Of but few delegates from
other States than Delaware, which State,
however, was ably represented by
number of her most eminent farmers and
other citizens interested in agriculture.
Delegates from the Maryland State Agri-
cultural Society were appointed, but the
time was so limited, that but few of the
delegation could be notified in time
Messrs. Calvert, of Prince Georges, and
Sands, Of Baltimore, however, attended
the Convention, but In consequence Of
an accident on the railroad, did not reach
Wilmington until the afternoon of the
day Of the session. A synopsis of the
proceedings of the convention will be
found below:
The meeting was organized by APP
pointing 7. j. Adams, Of Wilmington,
President; A. ] Willis, of MARYLAND
Jno. Woodall, of Kent county, and DR..
Phomas, Vice Presidents and Geo. p.
Fischer, of Dover, Secretary.
During the morning session, COM
mittee consisting of Geo. p. Fischer, Of
Dover; w. G. Riddall, District of Col
nmbia; A. L. Elwyn, Pennsylvania; s.
Townsend, Kent county; Sam'l Sands,
Baltimore Goo. p. Norris, New Castle
county; p. p. Spencer, Pennsylvania
were appointed a Committee to repor,
business.
This Committee, through its chairman
G. 7. Fischer, presented a series Of
resolutions pledging each member of the
convention not to purchase any guano al
u higher price than $44 per ton Of
l000 lbs.
lie advocated the passage of the reso-
lutions in an able and mastery speech,
and was supported by DR.. Jump and G
w. s. Nicholson, of Dover, and A. j
Willis, Of Maryland.
Mr Willis stated he did not approve
Of the use Of guano; that in his section
of the country it has been the means Of
doing much harm. He spoke in high
terms of oyster-shell lime, and gave a
description of his mode of farming.
The resolutions were opposed by DR..
Thompson and Charles 1. Dupont,
ESD
Mr. Dupont stated that he did not in
TEND using any Peruvian Guano on his
farm this year but meant to try Other
fertilizers.
Mr.. Calvert OF Maryland was called
'ipon to present his views upon the sub
.ieet to the Convention. Mr.. c. stated
that as Chairman of the Committee APP
pointed upon the subject by the Mary
land State Agricultural Society, he had
waited upon the Secretary of State the
Hon. Mr.. Marcy, who expressed the
warmest interest in the subject, and
promised to take such steps as would en-
able our governmental determine whether
the treaty stipulations with this govern
ment had not been violated by Peru in
granting facilities to the South American
nations which had been denied to our
citizens, in the trade in guano. Mr..
Marcy's attention was called to this sub
iect by Mr.. Calvert, as the correspond
ence annexed, received by us since the
meeting of the Convention, will more
particularly explain.
Mr.. Sands was then called upon. who
presented his views upon the present
condition and future prospects of the
guano trade; stated the probable supply
and demand for the spring crops, and
that it was understood the Agents of the
Peruvian government had no guano on
hand, nor would be likely to have any
until June, as all that was expected to
arrive in time for this Springs u Q, was
believed to be already disposed of to
capitalists and dealers-that in conse-
quence Of the unsettled state Of affairs
Peru, predicating upon the revolution
airy movements there, it was probable
that the arrangements for the Fall sup
ply had not been made on as extensive a
scale'as would be requisite under ordinary
,ircumsiances-th it would avail but
little to pass7any resolution now in re-
gard to the purchase of guano, inasmuch
IS the supply was very limited, and the
Convention could not pledge any other
than its own members to a concert of
action at this time. The speaker sug-
gestcd that the best plan would be to
hold another convention, at day suf-
:iciently distant for the farmers to con-
suit together, and that the Agricultural
Societies of the several States interested
in the use of the fertilizer, be urged to
send delegates to the same, prepared for
some decisive action in the premises, pre-
paratory to any purchases Cor the Fall
supplies.
Mr.. Fischer then withdrew his reso-
lions, and offered the following in their
stead, which wero unanimously adopted
Rcsolrcf, That a committee of five
from each State represented here. be
appointed by the President of this Con-
vention, to wait upon his Excellency. the
President of the United States, and to
request that some measures be taken by
our government, to induce the Peruvian
government to permit american vessels
without restriction, to load with guano at
the Chincha or other Peruvian Isllnds-
reasonable price being paid the author
ities in Peru.
Resided, That the exorbitant prices
now demanded for Peruvian Guano, will
not justify the farmers to purchase It,