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216 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 2,
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.
The marks used in Peruvian Guano to designate its quali-
ty, are made to represent the per centage of Ammonia the
particular lot is capable of producing, and are as follows:
All Guano marked "Peruvian" letter A, contains ammonia
and its elements equal to from 15 to 18 per cent.
All Guano marked "Peruvian" letter B, contains ammonia
and its elements equal to from 12½ to 15 per cent.
All Guano marked "Peruvian" letter C, contains ammonia
and its elements equal to from 10 to 12½ per cent.
All Guano marked "Peruvian" letter D, contains ammonia
and its elements equal to from 7 to 10 per cent.
Quantity and quality of Peruvian Guano inspected since
March 1st, 1856, embracing a period of nearly two years, and
which may be fairly taken to represent the two years ending
February 28th, 1858, as there have been no arrivals since
December, 1857, and in all probability will be none in Feb-
ruary:
Inspected Peruvian Guano since March 1st, 1856:
Quality
Quantity
A.
52,668 tons.
B.
none.
C. I D.
none. 1,026 tons.
2. AFRICAN GUANO.
Very little of this variety of Guano has been imported into
our State. It is valuable for its ammonia and phosphoric
acid—the former of which exists in small quantities, and the
latter not sufficiently large to make it desirable for the agri-
cultural public. Two lots only have been received here from
Saldanaha bay, and were classified as "African Guano" A.,
the mark representing 2 per cent, of ammonia and phosphoric
acid, equal to 35 per cent, of bone phosphate of lime. Of
this variety there has been inspected since March 1st, 1856,
26 tons.
3. PHOSPHATIC GUANO.
This Guano is valuable for the phosphoric acid it contains,
and its combination. It is imported from numerous islands
in the Caribbean sea, and varies very much in condition, phy-
sical appearance and ' quality. It has been classified under
the following names, and separate tables have been arranged
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