On
tho subject of guano, we quote the following
extract from an essay published on ibis sub
ject in the July number of •• The Farmer's
Library"— a new and most valuable Agricul
tural work, of which the readers of the Herald
will find a prospectus in our advertising col
umns -
"This extraordinary substance, which has,
within tho last eighteen months, attracted so
much notice in this country—elicited publica
tions on its uses and qualities, until some of
the most intelligent inqenters after, and liffos
ersof Agricultural knowledge are heard, at the
very word Ruano, to exclaim— ‘ Eo'"'<rh—the
very smell of ii is enough !
‘Give m* mi nunc* cf civet, good apothecary, to
sweeten my imagination.*
This substance, we repeat, which is gener
ally supposed to have been only last year im
ported into the United Slates, was received—
iwo barrels of it—and distributed from the
office of the old American Farmer as far back
as the Spring of 1825—just twenty years ago !
It was on that occasion that the Editor of this,
the •* Farmer’s Library,” by whom theve two
barrels were distributed, published an account
of us use and value in Peru, together with a
full analysis of it by two eminent French
chemists, Fourcroy and Vaugelin, who were
supplied with specimens for that purpose by
Bonplase and Humboldt ; Humboldt, by the
bye, suggested lhe question, whether Guano
might not be considered a« the product of the
revolution* of lhe earth, and to be classed with
the formations of coal and fossil earth. Henee
Guido Ricci proposed to give it a place in our
mineralogical systems, under the name of Am
monique Uratee, (Urate of Ammonia.) or at
least to consider it as a natural product ; and
we know that, however, well it may be consid
ered settled that these immense deposit* con
sist of the dung of sea birds, there are captains
of ship* who hav* visited them, who yet feel
strongly persuaded that Guano is a natural sub
stance, thrown up by some extraordinary con
vulsion or quake of the earth. Be that as it
may. 