Guano: A Treatise of Practical Information for FarmersRobinson, Solon
Science
Guano: A Treatise of Practical Information for Farmers
Robinson, Solon
Guano
Mr. Maulevere's heaviest weight, also applied singly, was with the 12
tons of dung; but only 14 cwt. more than the dressing with 2 cwt. of
coprolites. This soil was a light clay.
Mr. Newham's on a limestone soil, were the heaviest with No. 3--the
same as Mr. Cholmeley's--and were 16 cwt. heavier than an application of
dung alone.
Mr. Outhwaite's, on a hungry gravel, were the heaviest, with 9-3/4 tons
of dung and 2 cwt. of guano, for all the land had been dunged at this
rate, and exceeded 14-1/2 tons of dung by 2 tons 9 cwt. per acre.
Mr. Scott's were the heaviest on No. 4,--the guano and coprolites, and 1
ton 7 cwt. more than 20 tons of dung,--his soil was a strong loam.
Mr. Wailes's were the heaviest, with 4 cwt. of coprolites, showing an
increase over 20 tons of dung of 2 tons 9 cwt. per acre; the soil is a
useful loam.
The first fact which strikes the observer, is, that as a general rule,
there is not only an addition to the crop by the addition of those
artificial manures, but there is, in some cases, more absolute crop
produced by them than by farm-yard manure alone.
Now to bring this to the test of figures, the coprolites at L5 per ton,
and the guano at L10 per ton, will be at the rate of 2 cwt of each, L1
10s per acre. Now assuming this to be equal to 20 tons of dung per acre,
we should require to be able to produce the dung at 1s 6d per ton to
cost us the same money. But it can be neither produced nor purchased at
any such money. In the whole of the cases referred to, the manure is
most costly, and yet we find hardly any case where there is not an
addition to the crop, of say two to three tons of turnips per acre, by
such an increase of manure as the guano. Now, if a ton of turnips be
worth 10s., or even 9s, there is at once an element of repayment; for,
if a soil be in a condition to give a large crop of turnips, it is
almost certain to be capable of giving a large crop of any other plant
to succeed.
Mr. Charnock gives it as the result of his practical experience, that 4
cwt. of Peruvian guano, without manure, is the cheapest and best mode of
growing turnips; but the general testimony seems to be decidedly in
favor of what all farmers find it the best and easiest to do, viz., to
add a small quantity of artificial manure to that which the farm will
supply, and so to spread the whole over the land, rather than put all
the dung in one place, and all the artificial manure in another.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account