After corn, we
sow oats, or barley, or plants potatoes; if oats, plow once, sow
150 or 200 lbs. of guano, and two bushels of oats to the acre, and
harrow in together. It pays well to use guano for oats, as the crop
of oats will be doubled on ordinary lands; 50 and 60 bushels is
frequently obtained, and the difference in the straw, is worth the
expense of the guano.[2] Barley is not much sown; it would require
a little more guano, say 50 lbs. additional. Potatoes, (Mercers) we
plant from middle of March to first of May, after sowing broadcast
from 400 to 600 lbs. of guano per acre, plowed in and harrowed
over; then mark out with plow three feet apart, drop in drills
about a foot apart. Some prefer it in the drills, at the rate of
what they can grasp in one hand to a pace of two and a half feet;
it should be sprinkled so too much will not come in contact with
the seed. After oats or potatoes, sow wheat, about first of
October; if on oats, plow as soon as the oats are off; when ready
to sow, apply from 500 to 700 lbs. of guano per acre, cross plow,
and your ground is ready for the seed. As to the varieties of
wheat, there are several kinds used; the Mediterranean is the most
popular at present--one and a half bushels is generally sown to the
acre, and the land laid down to grass, with timothy and clover.
Some apply less at time of sowing, and add 100 or 150 lbs. per acre
in the spring, just as the grass is starting, say first of April.
If wheat is sown after potatoes, about the same treatment is given,
except 100 lbs. less guano will answer. Some harrow in guano,
instead of plowing it under; but experience shows that it is much
the best to plow it in, as the virtue remains in the ground much
longer, by being covered deep. Peruvian guano will produce the best
wheat of anything we can use, even if we should go to double the
expense with other manures. Crops of 30 and sometimes 40 bushels
have been obtained to the acre with guano. The average crop of
wheat on the Island, is not over 18 bushels per acre, and with 700
lbs. of guano plowed in pretty deep, the land can be mowed about as
long as from an application of stable manure. But as hay is a most
important crop, after it has been mowed for two or three years, it
is considered profitable to top dress wit