The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-04-06
Farm, Garden and Household.
Fish Guano.

/ his substance has come to be used to
such an extent that it is proper to give
more attention to lis peculiar merits and
to study its composition and characteris-
ties as a fertilizer. Prof. Goessmann in his
third annual report AS State Inspector of
Fertilizers. which appears in full in the
=3rd Annual Report of the Secretary of
the State Board OF Agriculture, recently
issued, says that nobody familiar with the
nature of good fish guano considers it
less efficient Tor agricultural purposes,
than any other ANIMAL refuse matter OF a
corresponding percentage OF phosphoric
acid and nitrogen. 1t fact. All true guanos,
tie Peruvian moi excepted, owe their most
valuable constituents, i'll controlling de-
gree, directly OF indirectly to the fish.
Our fish guano consists OF the entire
body of the menhaden fish, which has
been deprived purposely, Of its main por-
tion OF fat and incidentally. more or less
completely OF its soluble nitrogenous mat
ten The more the flesh predolninates, the
more the fat has been abstracted without
The application OF an excessive heat, rs tar
ri, time and degree are concerned, the
higher viii be the commercial value OF
the residue OF the press IN case OF an equal
percentage OF moisture. The flesh OF the
liSh, like that of our tlomesticated animals.
contains on an average - per cent. OF nj
trogen The same close approximate re
4tion exists between the bones and the
textures f these otherwise widely differ
me- classes of animals; for the fish bones
ma the scales consist mainly. Of vary
.ag quantity OF cmtilagirouS (nitrogenous)
matter and ot (ucalcic phosphate) bone
phosphate
TO produce a fish 4u4no which contains
IN given quantity the largest possible
amount of nitrogen. must be the principal
aim OF the manufacturer 1t brings the
highest pecuniaIY compensation; tor one
percentage OF nitrogen is commercially
,lual to iourpe cent. of phosphoric acid
During the past, it i, true, there has
been lltle nduremcnt tor considerations
4 this kind o J the part Of the manufacture
~. because practically there has been
scarcely any serious discrimination OH the
part ot the consumers regarding the exact
rlative chemical composition Of the varl-
uus fish guanOs offered for sale
The mt1re prospect 0t this branch OF
home i4Ju-trY depends, in an unusual de
cree. on The eXeTtOnS which hereafter
~hall br made. ON the part OF the manu-
il.turer7. to meet the present more exact
ne conditions Of the trade in fertilizers.
Tu derive any full benefit from the capi
tU invested. renders it advisable. tor all
arties pecunarlly interested in the fish
rlan0 manufacture, to favor closer sci
uttic investigation into the changes,
which the mcMhadeu fish mdergoes during
the customary mode ot rendering.
oss OF utrogenous matter in cOMse-
tuence oI misapplication OF heat, seems
.Y he not always compensated for by an
increase of the Yield Of oil
The latter, when left in the fish mass in
au undue proportion, reduces. to say the
east. the commercial value OF the guano
1y adding worthless matter, which may
fleet seriously the analytical results, as
Tar as it, percentage of nitrogen is con-
erned To heat the fish to a higher tenn
peiature, or tor a longer period of time
than is required to secure the largest pos
-ible amount of oil, reduces, inyaribly,
the commercial value of the fish mass for
agricultural purposes. y few subsequent
malytical statements. regarding the com
position OF fish. and the degree Of the
hanges which they may suffer by steam
lg and rendering, may serve as practl-
tI illustration OF my previous remarks
4 well dried and finely ground fish qua
uo is one OF our best substitutes for Peru
,ian guano, and ranks equally high with
The best quality OF animal dust from our
utcheI refuse establishments. 1t deserves
Tue liberal patronage OF farmers wherever
rich, ntrogenous phosphate is called