The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-16

are evidently but skirmishing on the
uter-boundaries of a vast field as yet
unexplored, which invites further in
vestigation.
In 1910 England made her first
importation of 20 casks of Peruvian
guano. Eighteen years afterwards
she imported 353,54 tons. 1t was
about this last mentioned period, 1858,
that this valuable fertilizer was first
introduced into the South Atlantic
States in any appreciable quantity.
The concentrated excellence of quality
in the article, combined with the
reasonable prices at which it was fur
nished, soon won for it a well deserved
appreciation by the cotton planters of
the Atlantic Seaboard. And for the
few years intervening between this
period and the closing of our ports,
was used with profit, both to the
planter and importer. T..
Inasmuch as it's use by the cotton
farmers of to-day has been supplanted
by innumerable commercial substitutes
in the form of manipulated guanos,
ammoniated phosphates, super-phos-
pilates, ground bone, ash element, and
German kainit, mere shadows OF de-
parted virtue, it may be of interest to
know something of those virtues
which first led our farmers captive to
strange Gods, and caused them to for
get their own domestic dung-hills.
shall not weary this convention
bv the recital of intricate tabular
statements, or detailed scientific an
alyses in proof of what l here relate:
Suffice that it is founded upon the re-
suits of such research, and revised by
practical observations and personal ex-
perience. -
If, says good authority, the value
of a manure be calculated as was done
by Bousingault and other chemists,
according to the amount OF nitrogen
which it contains, one ton OF good
Peruvian guano is equal to 33 IL tons
of farm yard manure, 20 tons OF horse
dung, 3S l-2 tons of COW dung, IL II
tons of pig dung, or IA IL tons OF
human excrement. Guano, said Leiblg
contains not only mineral elements
which soil must possess to produce
corn, but also in the ammonia, an In
dispensable element Of food which
serves to quicken their action and te
shorten the time required for their as
similation." This applies equally te
the production of cotton. The prac
tical tests upon the farm were, in
great measure, corroborative OF the
theoretical and scientific assertions
made in favor of Peruvian guano. Ii
it much to be wondered that under
such circumstances our farmers shoulc
. have fallen into the guano habit
Be that as it may, the habit or prac
tice has grown into very grave
malady: one which should receive the
most serious consideration in the de
liberations of this body. But JUS
here the question is pertinent. Wha
, has become of such valuable adjunc
: to farming as Peruvian guano -? Ane
why is it no longer placed within tn
reach of the farmer as it was abou
thirty years ago? 1t is not that tn
supply is exhausted, although fre
: ouently so asserted-but mainly, tina
, it's commercial value, as favorlnt
extract for almost worthless adultera
: tions, has placed it beyond the reacf
of the farmer.
. Under the prevailing system o
: frauds, few pounds of dirty talloV
, is converted into barrel of oleomar
) garine, (butter). And by the sam
5 principle, one ton of genuine Peruvian
, in the hands Of the manufactor, ma.
' be transformed into schooner loat
of oleo, marsh mud, guano. Th
e genuine article has been cornered o.
, and the price, to all intents and pun
: poses, is beyond that of pigeon dun' I1
during the seige of Jerusalem. In
t principle difference to be noted betwee'
! the prices current quoted in the SCRIP
| lures, referring to that occasion, an
] the present time, is that the marke
y for asses heads is dull and overstocke
y by those who still persist In the er
|. deayor to substitute worthless lmlts
t tions for genuine article.
Formerly there was sumclei
strength in guanos to eat up the saci
J. Nowadays, the sack eats up I'd
l. guano.
e The inspection and analysis OF con