The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-22
FertiliZers-GuanO.

A day or two ago we took occasion briefly to
comment on this remarkable manure, and to
caution our agricultural friends against rush
ing again in TO it's indscriminate use, now that
il is once more accessible TO them. SO far
from believing that it has been of any perma-
nent benefit, or even that it has repaid the
outlay in a series of years, we regard IL as
blessing to the agriculture of Virginia that
the supply was cut off by the war. This may
seem strange doctrine to the farmer who can
point to his waving fields of grain, which owe
their luxuriance wholly to the agency of guano
The effect is indeed oftentmes strikng-al-
most marvellous; but i'll the end 1T will prove
disastrous, unless the guano is used III con-
iunctfpn with a system of amelioration. The
practice of applying it year after year. ana
exacting from the soil excessive returns, is
like killing the goose for the golden egg. 1t
may perhaps be continued for 4 brief period !;
but no soil of moderate fertility, that requires
careful nursing either by being laid down TO
grass or by the application of manure, is
capable of standing it for amy considerable
length of time.
The conditions under which guano may be
iudiciously used are these: In combination
with farm yard manure, or when there is an
green crops, such as clover and peas, have
been turned in-or when the land has either
been lined, or dressed with bone or leached
ashes. Something of a more durable charac-
ter should always accompany it. Guano is
rather q stimulant than = manure; its effect
on the soil may be compared to brandy on the
human system. 1t is capable OF rousing 10 an
unnatural exertion, but is certain to be fol-
lowed by q reaction.
That this is a correct view, may be shown by
the fact that the product from given guam
tity of guano, all things being favorable, con-
tains n greater amount of the peculiar ingre-
dents of the manure than was applied to the
land. 1t not only gives back all 1t contained,
in single crop, but by its chemical action on
the soil, and by strengthening the roots OF the
plant and enabling them to go farther in search
of appropriate food, il draws heavily on the
organic constituents of the soil. These ele-
ments may have lain dormant for years, wait
ing the action of some solvent; but their
removal renders the soil more impracticable
than ever when correct system of renovation
is applied to it by the use of lime or ashes, or
thorough drainage.
Every intelligent cultivator, we think, must
have noticed these effects, and had his faith
in guano put to a severe test But the pros
pecr of large and immediate returns has influ-
enced him to continue its use in country
where land is plenty, and the prices of grain
very high.
tits not without degree Of satisfaction
that we find in the late work of Baron LIEBIG
full confirmation of these views. This work
was published during the war, and is sum
ming up Of all the discoveries made by the
author during period of many years devoted
to the advancement Of agriculture on correct
scientific principles. He says:
"Meadows and fields which give at
first large crops (meaning the cereals) with
guano, become at last, by the continued use
of this agent, frequently so drained of silicic
acid and potash as TO lose for many years their
original productiveness. AT the same time,
it cannot be denied that there may be many
soils which, for several years, by the aid OF
gaano alone, might be made to produce nigh
cereal crop before this state of exhaustion
appears but 1t will ut last inevitably come,
and 1t will then be very diticuit TO repair the
damage ''--Natural Latos Of Has6andry, PIP
25l, 252.