Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-05
horticultural.
VENEZUELAN GUANO.

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following article from recent number of
the philadelphia Saturday Evening
Post," that we may shortly expect
supply from another source, of superior
variety of Guano, which will come into
competition principally with the Mexican
aud other kinds used for the phosphates
they contain. We know nothing further
OF this discovery than what is contained
in the following notice of it from the
Post:
We have recently been informed of
the discovery of extensive deposits of
guano on the islands of the caribbean
Sea, belonging to aud under the juris-
dction Of the Republic of Venezuela.
As the value of guano, as fertilizing
agent, is becoming more known and APP
preciated, every year must largely in
crease its consumption, and any additional
discovery of the article cannot but be
regarded as of the utmost Importance to
the farmer, as tending to increase the
supply and lessen its price. We there
fore present to our agricultural readers
such facts concerning this discovery as
are in our possession.
The islands on which these deposits
exist are situated few degrees north of
the Equator, and only nineteen hundred
miles from our chief Atlantic ports, so
that the cost of transporting it will be
trlaing, compared with the cost of bring
ing the article from the islands in the
Pacific Ocean. 1t is estimated that the
amount of guano on the islands referred
to, exceeds five millions of tons, of ex-
cellent quality. Some of the deposits
contain very large per centage of am
monia; while in that of the others the
super phosphate of lime predominates,
with but small amount of ammonia.
An analysis, made by Professor Booth,
of sample, gives Is per cent. of super
phosphate of lime, which is nearly fifty
per cent. greater than that obtained from
bone dust. Agricultural chemistry has
proven the fact, beyond controversy,
that phosphate of lime is the most c ssen-
tial element entering into the construc-
ton of vegetable matter 1t is well as
certained that plants derive their nour-
ishment from the atmosphere and soil.
The atmosphere furnishes carbonic
acid, ammonia, and combination of
nitrogen and water. The former serve
IN the gaseous form, and water in a
fluid, to sustain the plant after it has ac-
quired leaves. The soil receives with
the rain, snow, hail, &C., carbonic acid
apd ammonia, by which the plant sus-
talns its growth through its roots, until
it can provide for its future wants through
Its many-mouthed leaves.
The soil, in addition to its supplies
from the air, contains within itself an
inexhaustible supply of carbonic acid
and ammonia, from the slow decay of its
humus (woody iibre) and the countless
myriads Of insects and vegetable re-
mains. But the matters which the soil
sometimes does and sometimes does not
furnish, are indispensable +; and should
these materials not be present, they
must be supplied artifcially, or exhaustion
follows. These are the various inorganic
bodies, the mineral alkalies and salts
Withour particularizing further, it is
conceded that of all the alkaline salts
most indispensable for plants designed
for food of men and animals, the most
necessary constituent, which is required
IN the largest quantity, and for which
the smallest provision exists in the soil
for reproducing it, is the phosphate of
lime, the Importance Of which substance
may be estimated, when we consider that
animals contain it as a vital constituent,
and its secretion in the bones forms over
ninety per cent. of the solid weight
In the absence of phosphates, no blood,
no milk, NJ muscular fibre could be
formed; without phosphate of lime, our
horses, sheep, and cattle would be with
out bones. We have briefly stated the
above facts, in order to show the value
of this new article of guano from Ven
ezuela, on account of its richness in
phosphates.
1t will no doubt be gratifying to our
agricultural friends to learn that these
valuable guano islands have been leased
from the Venezuelan Government for
long term of years by number of en-
terprising capitalists Of New York, Phil
adelphia, and Baltimore, who have pro-
cured a charter from the State of Penn
sylvania, with an authorized capital of
one million of dollars. The name of the
company is THE Philadelphia Guano
Company" the Office of which is in this
city. The whole of the stock has been
subscribed, and the company are making
extensive preparations for large i'm
portation of the article, to meet the de-
mand for the spring crops. We under
stand that the guano will be sold at a
reasonable price, andagencios established
at all the principal marts.
Proper MoDE OF HANGING CARR
Plant your posts firmly in the ground,
and place n piece of timber four by six
inches lengthwise between them, sunk
little in the ground that carriages can
pass easily over it; and it will prevent
the gate from s,oagyiag.
Suppose your gate is to stand in an
east and west line, the heel-post at the
west, and open ON the north side. Then
put your upper hook at the northeast
corner, and hang a plumb line to it.
Bore the hole for the undertook so that
the shaft of the auger may be about an
inch north of the plumb line; drive your
hook in till within about an inch of the
plumb and you will have gate which
when opened about half way, viii swing
open and stand so for you to pass and
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