Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-19
LOCAL ITEMs.

nv invitation OF DR.. ~. II. StaOier,
ternVvI' .;ty the chemical section of Z. 5.
M9I.,,lLn To-. High School, visited his estab-
nant for the preparation OF Soluble
nnssaasnhated Peruvian Guano."
fr T,,p Doctor very kindly went into q full
i Luz explanation of all the details
anu .sa snbiect: lie proved to those present,
o. w he exhausted condition of the soil In
'n"s many parts of our own and adjoining
Seil has resulted from injudicious tlllage,
S'au SS;ch its virgin fertility has been lost to
y and we must therefore, IN order 10 OBJ
.s;n crops, use fertilizers OF some KIND:
Rnt the barn yard does not yield suthcient
:, rsstore all that has been, and that is
Instantly being carried OF, IN the form
g heef wheat, corn, &c.,--we must resort
=, atber sources Now, Peruvian guano fur
N;.hes rich ammoniacal manure OF great
n 'I,,s Init is found to be deficient IN that
h;ahlv important class of salts known as
p5osnbates, without which wheat cannot be
iadlsa5. how then shall we obtain sup
Dlv Of these phosphates? Bones contain
pphont 56 per cent. OF phosphate OF ilme, but
~ sunnly is, in no wise sufficient to meet
~ damand: in this dilemma the farmers,
s',h of this country and Europe, have made
os,ons;ye use Of Phosphate guano. large
I.mos;ts Of which are found in the West
India Islands ana on the coast OF South
America: of these, the ''Sombrero Guano,
one Of the most uniformly rich In phos-
,bates is much used in this section: this
srtiele contains, on an average, 80 per cent.
s nnre phosphate, and thus furnishes US an
olmost inexhaustible supply of this valua-
Ne substance. The '.Sombrero," however,
~ "a the article in solid form, and hence
!, i hut little available for the nourlshment
of nlants, nor can it supply Ammonia, Soda.
or Potash, all of which are essential to the
arowth of cultivated plants. and all are
), ,re or less deficient In our soils.
The constituents then necessary for
oomnlete fertilizer, and one of general APP
nl;cation. are, it seems, largely contained in
these deposits; they need, however, certain
nreparation at the hands OF man, and 1t Is
this very preparation that DIR. Stabler IS now
engaged 10 eifecting. He first reduces the
Sombrero guano to fine powder, then
ronses il into activity and renders 1t direct
10 available to the crop by the addition OF
strong sulphnric acid, and lastly. he mixes
II with a suitable proportion OF Peruvian
ouano and common salt, to supply the ne
cessary ammonia, and alkall.
These different operations are, at pre-
sent performed by horse power ana manual
labor. in such buildings as happened to pre-
sent themselves at the time they were need
cd. but the entire process is designed very
soon 10 be carried on, in one large establish
meat. worked by powerful steam engine,
IL II oil ha
vanees for the most effective and rapid pro-
dnction of the needed results.
We are glad to learn that the Soluble
Phosphated guano" is already in extensive
and constantly increasing demand at the
hands of the Messrs. Fowle \ Co, OF this
city, who are the agents for It's sale.
MANY Of the old citizens of Alexandria
will we'll remember John B. Hepburn, Com
fectioner and Fruiterer, King street. Every
now and then he is heard from, he being
now resident of Hayti. There was re-
port that he was Count Lemmonade. under
Solooue--but that was contradicted. The
following advertisement We lind IN the New
York Herald
"Place Geffard Hayti, Metropolitan Hotel.--The
that he is in position to accommodate, IN his
hotel travellers from foreign parts aad other cities
of the republic who might visit the capital Tor
pleasure, change of air, or business. They will,
on all occasions, be boarded and lodged on the
most moderate terms. The house is large and
elegant, is purely and thoroughly ventilated, ana
is situated in one of the most beautiful quarters of
the city.
There will he concert every fortnight in one Of
the magnifcen, saloons of the hotel, in which ar
fists of approved merit will take part. There will
also DO constantly on hand for rent, elegantly ca
parisoned horses and carriagesto be driven either
two or four in handy honest and polite coach
men. Prices moderate.
The New York Herald, and the National Intel
lgsncer, of the city of Washington, are requested
to publish the above announcement three times,
and send their accounts to the Rev. Moses Hep
burn, Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, or
to Messrs A. L. & ID. Sands, OF New York. and
they will be paid. j. Is. HEPbohN. /.
Port Au Prince, Feb. 2, 1860"
BoBpERY or FURs- Some days since a
gentleman arrived in this city. and advertis-
ed the sale of a lot of furs, and rented Sa-
repta Hall for the purpose OF that sale
The furs arrived here on Friday last, and
we're TO have been sold on Saturday even
ing. While the unpacking was going on,
the agent in charge of the furs missed a
handsome sable cape of the value Of fifty
dollars. He suspected his assistant, Francis
Day. of the theft Justice Price issued a
warrant for the arrest of Day, who was Ia
ken into custody, and the stolen cape found
in his baggage. Justice Price then COM
mitted Day to Jail. and held the Agent TO
security to appear at a witness at Court
The Agent gave his stock Of furs as security
for the deposit Of $50, the penalty of his
bond, and left the city The sale OF iurs con-
seqaently did not come off.
LoUDouN IrEas.-M Harrison and A. L..
Rogers, esqs., Commissioners, sold on Mon
day last, the farm of t. S. Hamilton, on SUI
gar Land Run, in this county. three miles
from the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hamp-
shire Railroad, and containing 1913 acres. to
David Brown, esq, AZ So per acre.
March Court was in session several days
this week, considerable amount OF bust
ness was transacted, and Il large number OF
persons were in attendance.
DR.. Joseph Stevens. Of the firm Of Peel 4
Stevens Of Alexandria, delivered an interest
ing and instructive address before the Young
Mems Christian Association of this place,
on Monday evening last.--LeeS6"1y Hash-
iagt0aian.