Part 3 — APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII.
Reading edition
NOTE I. (p. 297).
Peruvian Guano Imported into the United Kingdom, 1865-1893.
Year. Tons.
1865 213,024
1870 247,028
1871 144,735
1872 74,964
1873 135,895
1874 94,346
1875 86,042
1876 158,674
1877 111,835
1878 127,813
1879 45,475
1880 58,631
1881 33,393
1882 27,382
1883 36,713
1884 15,802
1885 —
1886 28,733
1887 5,784
1888 16,446
1889 17,000
1890 19,000
1891 11,000
1892 14,000
NOTE II. (p. 298).
Guano Deposits of the World.
South America— Peru.—In various islands off the coast—viz., Chincha, Guanape, Ballestas, Macabi, Lobos, and Patillos; and on different parts of the coast—viz., Pabellon de Pica, Chipana, Huanillos, Punta de Patillos, Indiependence Bay, and Lobos de fuera. Columbia.—In different parts of the States of Venezuela, New Granada, and Ecuador. Guano coming from these parts is often known as Columbian guano, or according to the name of the State in which it is found. Maracaïbo and Monks guanos come from the coast of Venezuela. Deposits are also found on the Galapagos Islands, to the west of Ecuador. Bolivia.—Mejillones, Patagonia, Leon's.
North America—Deposits have been found on the coasts of Mexico and California; on the Raza and Patos Islands; and on the coasts of Labrador. They have also been found on the Islands of Curaçao, Aruba, and Navassa in the Gulf of Mexico.
Africa—On the west coast deposits have been found at Algoa Bay, Saldanha Bay, and on the Island of Ichaboe.
Australia—Shark's Bay and Swan Island.
West Indies—Sombrero, Aves, and Cuba.
Pacific Ocean—On the Islands of Baker, Jarvis, Howland, Malden, Starbuck, Fanning, Enderbury, Lacepede, Browse, Huon, and Surprise.
Asia—Deposits at Kuria Muria on the Arabian coast, and on the Sandwich Islands. (See Heiden's 'Düngerlehre,' vol. ii. p. 349.)
NOTE III. (p. 303).
Composition of Concretionary Nodules.
(Analyses by Karmrodt.)
No. 1
Potassium sulphate 7.49
Potassium phosphate 9.52
Sodium phosphate 9.08
Ammonium phosphate 7.57
Calcium sulphate 3.40
Ammonium urate 4.09
Ammonium oxalate 41.28
Nitrogenous organic matter 10.17
Water 7.40
100.00
Nitrogen - 14.84
No. 2
Potassium sulphate 45.64
Sodium sulphate 13.22
Ammonium sulphate 10.23
Ammonium oxalate 9.14
Basic ammonium phosphate 12.09
Precipitated ammonium phosphate 4.78
Organic matter .94
Insoluble 1.90
Water 2.06
100.00
NOTE IV. (p. 306).
The following analyses, being the average of a large number of different samples analysed from time to time in the chemical laboratory of the Pommritz Agricultural Experimental Station, show the gradual deterioration of Peruvian guano, as regards its percentage of nitrogen, during the years 1867-81:—
Nitrogen.
1867 13.16
1868 11.98
1869 13.66
1870 12.37
1871 10.04
1872 10.72
1873 9.16
1874 9.83
1878 7.10
1879 6.95
1880 7.07
1881 6.93
NOTE V. (p. 309).
Composition of Different Guanos.
The following is a list of the more common nitrogenous and phosphatic guanos which have been used in the past or are at present in use. Those printed in italics are still being worked. As their value depends on their nitrogen and phosphoric acid, these alone have been given. The percentages must be taken as mere approximations, as the quality of different cargoes from the same deposits varies very much. The table may be found useful for reference.
Nitrogenous Guanos.
Phosphoric } { Tricalcic
Nitrogen = Ammonia. acid } = { phosphate.
per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent.
Angamos 20 24 5 11
Chincha 14 17 13 28
Ballestas 12 15 12 26
Egyptian 11 13 19 41
Guanape 11 13 — —
Macabi 11 13 12 26
Corcovado 11 13 15 33
Saldanha Bay 9 11 9 20
Ichaboe 8 10 9 20
Independence Bay 7 9 12 26
Pabellon de Pica 7 9 14 31
Punta de Lobos 4 5 15 33
Huanillos 6 7 18 28
Penguin 5 6 11 24
Patagonian 4 5 18 39
Falkland Islands 4 5 14 31
Phosphatic Guanos.
Phosphoric } { Tricalcic
acid } = { phosphate.
per cent. per cent.
Maracaïbo, or Monks 42 92
Raza Island 40 87
Curaçao 40 87
Baker Island 39 85
Starbuck 38 83
Enderbury 37 81
Californian 35 76
Aves 34 74
Fanning Island 34 74
Howland 34 74
Sidney Island 34 74
Mejillones 33 72
Lacepede Island 33 72
Malden Island 32 70
Sombrero 32 70
Browse Island 31 68
Huon Island 28 61
Patos Island 24 52
Jarvis Island 20 44
Cape Vert 11 24
NOTE VI. (p. 314).
It may be of interest to refer to a theory put forward by Liebig as to the action of oxalic acid in guano. This, he considered, had the effect of gradually rendering the insoluble calcium phosphate soluble, and giving rise to the formation of ammonium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Such an action would probably take place were the guano allowed to ferment by itself. We know, however, that when it is brought in contact with the soil-particles, all its soluble phosphate is converted into precipitated phosphate.
NOTE VII. (p. 326).
Analyses of Dung of Fowls, Pigeons, Ducks, and Geese. (Storer's 'Agricultural Chemistry,' vol. i. p. 367.)
Fowls. Pigeons. Ducks. Geese.
Water 56.00 52.00 56.60 77.10
Organic matter 25.50 31.00 26.20 13.40
Nitrogen 1.60 1.75 1.00 .55
Phosphoric acid 1.5-2.00 1.5-2.00 1.40 .54
Potash .80-.90 1.0-1.25 .62 .95
Lime 2.00-2.50 1.50-2.00 1.70 .84
Magnesia .75 .50 .35 .20
According to a computation by a Belgian farmer, a pigeon yields about 6 lb. of dung in a year, a hen about 12 lb., a turkey or goose about 25 lb., and a duck 18 lb.