Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-20
From the Journal Of Commerce.
AMERICAN GUANO.

Extracts Of letters and reports Of Baron Won Liebg
President of the Royal Academy of Sciences aud Pro-
fessor OF Chemistry at Munich upon the American gu
ano from Bakers and Jarvis Islands, forwarded to John
Sardy, as agent for William Il. Webb, by James r.
Mac Donald, Esq, United States Consul at Hamburg
Under date Of August llth, 1860, Mr.. Mac Donald
writes
Enclosed send you a letter of much importance
containing report from Baron Won Liebig, which
leaves nothing 70 be desired Professor Liebig after
reporting the analysis Of the Guano in the scien
tfc Manner land by various tests states that there are
analyses made order in the chemical laboratory of
the Royal Academy, and that take charge of this
animation by exception, not to gain something by il,
but felt great interest in the matter,
aud have spent two months labor in the natter
The Bakers Island guano contains more phos-
phoric acid than any other known fertilizer; and it is
similar in its ingredients to natural phosphorite differ
ing from it, however, in the following remarkable par
tcuars :-Phosphorite is in crysalzed state and is
completely nsoluble in water. The Bakers Island
guano on the contrary, is amorphous is soluble to
considerable extent in pure water and when mosened
coors itmus paper red. The Jarvis Island guauo has
also acid reaction and is partly soluble in water 1t
is worthy of remark, that the Jarvis guano, although
one half rich in earthly phosphates as the Bakers,
gives to water greater quantity Of soluble phosphorc
acid. regard the discovery OF these guano deposits
a most fortunate event for agriculture At the present
time, the prices OF fertilizers like bones continu-
ally on the increase, and the agrcuurst will not
NC W amount sulnCleuL
for his wants. Bakers Island guano being of all fer
izers the richest in phosphorc acid will be of special
importance. As far as chemistry can judge there is
hardly for doubt that all cases where the fer
ity Of field would be increased by the use Of bone
dust the Bakers Island guano will be used with decided
advantage. The phosphate Of lime in the Bakers Is
land guano is far easily dissolved than that of
bones, and if we take the proportion of that Ingredient
TO De 60 lbs in the latter hundred pounds in the
Bakers Island guano equivalent to hundred and
forty lbs. Of bones Thus the agriculturist would be
benefited much by using seventy pounds of Bakers
Island guano as by hundred pounds of bone DUST
Shis guauo contains in ammonia nitric acid and azotic
Substances nearly per cent Of active nitrogen
small addition of salt of ammonia would give it the full
strength of Peruvian guano.
FOR turnps clover, &c, the Jarvis Island guano
just good the Bakers. Judging simply from It's
per cenage Of phophates Il Is of less value as an art
Gle Of importation; but it is rich in sulphate of lime
which Is also fertilizer; and its phosphorc acid is Of
higher value nearly half Of it exists in soluble phos-
phatc Of lime. The Jarvis Island guano would seem TO
be an excellent means of restoring cotton or sugar plan
tations whose soil has been out by long continued
cultivation. think it is preferable to Peruvian guano,
which, being rich in ammonia tends rather to great dc.
veopmen. of leaves and stems"