et, as Mr.
Chapman says, it is worth enough in the vicinity of a market, to pay the
whole expense. It is also valuable in the interior for forage and
manure.

NOTE 3. This is an error. Guano should not be damped unless
with water saturated with salt, copperas, or a liberal sprinkle of
plaster over the pile.

LETTER FROM SETH RAVNOR, OF MANORVILLE TO MR.
CHAPMAN.--Successful experiments on grass, oats, corn, wheat and
rye.

"_Manorville, Sept._ 8, 1852.

S. CHAPMAN, ESQ.--Dear Sir;--I have received your circular
proposing to gather information from practical farmers of the
results from the use of guano, and to have the same published for
general circulation. Conceiving the object to be a very laudable
one, I will give the result of a few experiments tried with
Peruvian guano by myself, and others which have come under my
observation; but in doing so I think it would be of great utility
to state what kind of soil the guano was applied to. Not being a
professor of geology, I can only use such terms as are familiar
with farmers generally. The soils in this vicinity are heavy loam,
sandy loam, sandy, and occasionally some heavy clayey soils.

First, as to the nature of guano. It is generally considered to be
more of a stimulant than an enricher of the soil, if applied in its
natural state, and much more durable to be plowed in than to be
harrowed in; and as far as I have tried it, I have not found it to
be injurious to soils--or as some call it, 'kill the soil.' In the
year '49 I applied on the first of April, 176 lbs. per acre on
sandy loam grass ground--yield, about half a ton more than the acre
adjoining. Same year applied about 150 lbs. to the acre, on four
acres of oats, same kind of soil, and the estimated increase was 20
bushels to the acre. In 1850 plowed under 400 pounds per acre, for
corn, estimated increase, 15 bushels of ears. The season was rather
unfavorable for corn. In '51 composted six bushels charcoal dust to
100 lbs. guano, and plowed under for wheat, at the rate of 500 lbs.
of guano so composted, to the acre, and top dressed with 100
bushels of leached ashes--yield, 20 bushels. One of my neighbors
applied for three years in succession, 100 lbs. harrowed in with
rye, on two acres light sand--yield, 14 bushels to the acre; 10
bushels more than the a