Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-06

The above analysis Of Dr. Gale may be re-
lied On as correct, as he is the United States
Government chemist, and is probably as com
petent TO give correct decision in regard TO
the constituents Of the guanO as any other per
son, even though he may belong to the United
States Navy
In II circular which lies before us we find
some remarks of DR. Gale in regard to guanos,
which may be OF interest to our readers and
VIII also show that ammonia is not tho only
valuable property Of guano:
have been requested in this connection
to state how the effects of the phosphate
guanos dIher from those of the ammOniacal
guanos, and the condition in which each leaves
the SOL after the crop has been removed and,
finally, the comparative value of each guano to
the iarmer, SO far as it can be ascertained
"GuaDOs are Of two kind those in which
the ammonia-yieldingp products predOminate
as In the Peruvian guanOs; and those in which
the phosphates Of lime and magnesia predomi-
nate.
The first kind is produced in regions where
there are little or no rains, and the second in
regions where the rains wash away large part
OF the organic or soluble portions, and leave
the insolubie parts. Such are the Mexican
guanOS OF the W. L., and those on the islands
of the Pacific above named
= III we heat to redness an ammOnia-yiellinC
Suano we vOlatilize IS to 20 per cent of or
ganic matter, capable Of yielding ammonia and
other volatile products which constitute the
body ot this class of guanos. What remains
after extracting the amrnOnacal and phosphate
compounds, Is Of comparatively little value, as
1t IL chioHy alkaline salts.
Every farmer who has experience knows
that when he has once used guano for his crops
IT'S strength is exhausted the first year. and if
he would continue to grow crops he must con-
tinue to repeat his guano.
- R..t ,Iot -. Al
guanO The analysis shows that nore than so
per cent, Of these guanos consist Of the bios
paate oi lime and magnesia. in an ins0luble
state or III Just such n condition that the roots
"i plants VIII take up and appropriate SO much
"i ihe salt as Is requisite To perfect the same.
" Now II we examine the analysis of wheat.
one oil the great staples of our Middle and
Western states, We find that every 100 pounds
OF its ashes contains from 30 to 80 pounds of
these phosphates which must have + cen taken
up from the soil. A large part of these salts
are required to form the hull or envelope of
the kernel, and are indispensable to the per
fection OF the seed. Hence the special value
Of the phosphate guanOs. Aud furthermore.
as they are only soluble by reason of the vital
power OF the plant, they remain in the Soil as n
reservoir, ready TO be drawn upon ONLY when
the roots OF the plant require their appropria-
ton to perfect the growth thereof. These are
the reasons why the guanOs in question should
be used IN preference 10 the ammOnia-y ielding
guanOs. The effects Of the former last for years
and the soil acquires from its use an accumu-
late power; while the latter, annually applied,
IL exhausted with the crop; the soil Indirectly
becomes exhausted from the annually forced
crops. l.. ID. GALE, NJ. ID.
Chemical Examiner of Patents,
"U. ). Patent Office
The character OF the Jarvis and Nantucket
island guano appears thus to be fairly estab
lshed, not only as fertilizer, but as AN article
ol commerce, OF perhaps two thirds the value
Of PERUVIAN guanO. The next question is
whether 1t can be obtained from the islands at
sueh cost as to make the trade pay TIE
islands were fully surveyed by the officers of
the st. Mary's, but the charts sent on to Wash
ington have not yet been published. We know.
however, that the schooner LihoIiho WAS able tn
take on board eighty tons in ten days. and
from the surveys by that expedition alone.
without regard to any information derived from
the U. 5. expeditions, the agent Of the compa-
ny expects her successor to place moorings and
lie at, anchor while receiving on board from
twenty to fifty tons per day, according to cir.
eumstanees