Chapter XXXIV: Appendix: To Chapter VIII

NOTE I. (p. 297).

PERUVIAN GUANO IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1865-1893.

Year. Tons. | Year. Tons. 1865 213,024 | 1881 33,393 1870 247,028 | 1882 27,382 1871 144,735 | 1883 36,713 1872 74,964 | 1884 15,802 1873 135,895 | 1885 - 1874 94,346 | 1886 28,733 1875 86,042 | 1887 5,784 1876 158,674 | 1888 16,446 1877 111,835 | 1889 17,000 1878 127,813 | 1890 19,000 1879 45,475 | 1891 11,000 1880 58,631 | 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, Independence Bay, and Lobos de Afuera.

_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. Maracaibo 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 Curacao, 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 'Duengerlehre,' vol. ii. p. 349.)

NOTE III. (p. 303).

COMPOSITION OF CONCRETIONARY NODULES.

(_Analyses by Karmrodt._)

No. 1.

Potassium sulphate 7.49 " phosphate 9.52 Sodium " 9.08 Ammonium " 7.57 Calcium sulphate 3.40 Ammonium urate 4.09 " oxalate 41.28 Nitrogenous organic matter 10.17 Water 7.40 ----- 100.00 ------ Nitrogen 14.84

No. 2.

Potassium sulphate 45.64
Sodium " 13.22
Ammonium " 10.23
" 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. Nitrogen. 1867 13.16 | 1873 9.16 1868 11.98 | 1874 9.83 1869 13.66 | 1878 7.10 1870 12.37 | 1879 6.95 1871 10.04 | 1880 7.07 1872 10.72 | 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. Maracaibo, or Monks 42 92 Raza Island 40 87 Curacao 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 1.5-2.00 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.