REPORT.

To the Honorable,

The House of Delegates of Maryland.

In obedience to your order, the undersigned herewith sub-
mits a report, embracing the information required by the
same.

CLASSIFICATION AND GRADES OF GUANO.

By authority of the law passed by the Legislature at its
session in 1854, the undersigned arranged and classified in
distinct tables, the different varieties and qualities of Guano
then imported, and has since made such additions as were
necessary to embrace all subsequently received.

The varieties and grades as now adopted, and which have
become the standards of inspection, are as follows:

1. PERUVIAN GUANO.

Peruvian Guano is exported by the Peruvian government
to this country, from the Chincha islands, a small group lying
off the port of Pisco, on the Peruvian coast, where it is de-
posited in large quantities. They are known as the North,
Middle and South Islands, the supply here being received
from the two former.

Located as these islands are, in a position where it never
rains, the Guano remains in immense beds undecomposed,
and hence its great value as a fertilizer depends upon the
abundance of the elements it contains capable of forming
ammonia, while its phosphoric acid though not so great as in
other varieties, contributes essentially to its fertilizing quali-
ties.