Chapter VIII
Appendix to
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.