An easy mode of ascertaining the capabilities of soil : tests for the purity of artificial manures : mode of preserving the fertilizing contents of a dung-heap from escape, &c. &c. / by John Robinson.

  • Robinson, John.
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An easy mode of ascertaining the capabilities of soil : tests for the purity of artificial manures : mode of preserving the fertilizing contents of a dung-heap from escape, &c. &c. / by John Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    15/32 (page 17)
    GUANO. Guano, the deposit of various sea-fowl frequenting numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean, and on the western coast of South America. Many years since, the celebrated Humboldt observed its fertilizing properties in the production of maize, the species of grain chiefly grown on the South American continent; Davy also has noticed the circumstance, and subjoined an analysis in his work on Agricultural Chemistry. Admitting that phosphorus and ammonia are the two fertilizing principles in all manures, as they undoubtedly are, genuine Peruvian guano is a most valuable manure. When first introduced into this country, it sold as high as £28. per ton; of late, however, you may buy something passing under that name, from £10. to £12. per ton. With all its excellence, it may be a matter of inquiry, whether it be a manure suitable to our humid climate; the more especially, as the salts of ammonia it contains are mostly soluble in water, and, of course, readily pass off. It is the opinion of some, that it eventually deteriorates the land to which it is applied; whilst others think differently. Without going into the proportions of an elaborats analysis, real guano should contain, in a state of fine comminution, bone dust, phosphate and carbonate of lime. From the fine state of this bone dust, which requires the aid of a powerful glass to be seen, the soil cannot be much benefited nor the subsequent crop