The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-05-18

prepared by the National Geographic
Society. Washington, ID. c.
Peru, already Of considerable agri
cultural importance and destined to
become much more so. is fortunate in
having one of the most valuable
sources Of natural fertilizer in the
world-its famous bird islands on
which thousands Of tons Of guano are
deposited In a sort OF annual crop.
These deposits, rich In precious nitro
gen, have been laid down on the is
lands for thousands of years, and I'M
I'll recently there seemed a well-nigh
inexhaustible mine o3 the material. But
arose near the middle OF the past
century brought In Its train wasteful
methods, and all the accumulated de
pcsits have been stripped away. The
annual accommodations are still avail
able. however, and are worth many
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars.
Peru's peculiar geographical condi-
lions make possible the preservation
Of her valuable guano ''crop." A few
showers might wash away the valua-
HE fertilizer, but thanks to Its noun
tain masses. Its very cold off-shore
waters ana its prevailing winds, the
region OF the Bird islands Is rainless.
Guano, 1t will be understood. Is pri-
marily the deposit of ~fish-eating birds,
into which may be mixed and incor-
porated-in greater or less proportion
Ia variety of other substances. such
as the eggs and bodies of birds and
the deposits and the bodies of e a
lions. II may be found mixed with
gravel and sand In very small pro-
portion or sometimes TO an extent
rendering II Improbable to extract.
Peruvian Guano ls Best
Peruvian guano' Is practically
synonymous with heterogeneous guan0
and has lung been recognized as the
best heterogeneous fertillzer-that Is, as
a fertilizer OF generally high nitrogen
value In which the nitrogen COM
pounds are found In a condition most
assimilable by our plants.
Nitrogen Is a primary necessity to
the farmer. Whatever be the impor-
lance of adding. to the soil potash and
cher mineral c~omponents OF our food
and our clothing, there never exists a
doubt as to the fundamental impor-
lance or nitrogen. Consequently a pc
interest attaches to birds Of the
Peruvian islands, which have long
to aid the worlds agriculture
and which, given due protection. may
continue indefinitely to contribute ma
to the support OF humanity.
The peculiar climatic conditions pre-
mentioned offer merely the
roper environmental conditions for the
preservation of the product. The pri-
mary requisite for abundant bird life
the existence OF d plentiful food
supply. and this Is found In the schools
n small fish. called anchobetas. tlAt
WARM IN the Peruvian current. There
OF fish, acres Ia extent. are
,ften pursued In the water by bonito
md other large ash. while beset from
ne air by thousands OF birds.
Bnlions Of pounds OF fish must be
consumed each year by the birds. be-
ides the incalculable quantity de-
,oured By other fishes; but the
ecundity OF the ~anchobetas Is such
hat their numbers are still maintain
IA. At times great acres OF the e
re made red by myriads OF small.
rightly colored shrimp-like crrstacea
nd these. too, play a part OF lin
,ortance as food for the fishes and
'lrds.
islands Crowded With cuanays.
Not all OF the birds are of equal
from the commercial point
1 sssw sszasea. three species virtual
y support the guano industry at the
fime-the white:breast cor
aorant fgunnay). the big gray pelican
nd the whitehead gannet.
Gnanays occur on the Peruvian coast
rom 4 the Northern to the extreme
outhern boundary. but their pre-
minent home III the double group OF
stands opposite pisco. IN the South.
he Chinchas and the Baliestas.
The largest Ruanay ioeks are found
q the Chinchn islands. Upon the
oath island of thc Chlnellas. . small
Ind r1ner6lIy ~tr4pnkuIer bsNiy ~ iand1
e<>vecn Al nil0 80 aeree n aren. there
I r6ot witch NV el<e ami com
.41<nc&s I'm sroreely - ri>sled -