E.—lo.

The above are low-class manures, with an excessive amount of calcic carbonate in the form of coral, shells, &c. If some means could be devised so that the guano could be screened before leaving the islands its value would be increased. The value of phosphatic guanos depends upon the percentage of tricalcic phosphate-present. Although no doubt on many of our New Zealand soils the cabonate of lime would be beneficial, yet, where it is desirable to apply lime, it could be done in a cheaper way. One important feature in the Chesterfield guano is the small amount of 'silica it contains. It is generally dry and in good mechanical condition. Other phosphatic guanos have been examined—namely, the Coral Queen, Howland Island, Abrolhos or Eat Island, Maiden Island, and Port Adelaide. The first four are of much better quality than the guano of the Chesterfield Islands, and if the supply holds out they will probably be the source of the phosphates for our superphosphate industry for some time to come. The Port Adelaide samples are inferior to the Chesterfield, and contain an unusually high percentage of sand. The following analyses will show the composition of these guanos, with that of two others, the sources of which are not known :—

Table III. — Analyses of Phosphate Guanos.

Akaroa Guano. During the years 1888 and 1889 a quantity of guano was brought from the caves at Akaroa. The samples varied considerably in quality. Some were nitrogenous, and equal to the best Peruvian guano, while others were worthless. The better class ones contained feathers, which furnished a portion of the nitrogen represented in the analyses. Most of the samples, however, contained rather a high percentage of silica and insoluble matter; and, as this contained iron, the guano would not be suitable for the preparation of superphosphate, even supposing it could be procured with a higher percentage of tricalcic phosphate. The varied composition and value of these guanos shows well the importance of purchasing manures only on the results of analysis.

Table IV. — Analyses of Akaroa Guano.

7

Name of Guano. S 1° d Hi District received from. s S3 'o a q in II 'H O o 0 a I 2 Moneyvalue, per Ton. 6-46 13-04 21-16 00 £ s. d. 5 17 6 3oral Queen .. 247 Christohuroh 0-26 56-40 24 l'O9 758 Walton .. 0-18 53-62 25•04 0-42 5 4 3 826 East Hamilton 17-22 0-16 57-60 I 22-60 > . I 2-42 0-56 5 13 3 lowland Island 267 519 633 580 581 392 Waikato Cliristchnrch Duneciin.. Christchureh I 8-66 ; 12-95 5-00 8-90 I 9-90 3-90 18-83 10-15 5-20 10-04 11-8'J 9-40 21-72 21-44 8-40 10-95 10-48 10-18 1-60 0-20 0-20 4-00 3-98 0-10 3108 36 00 46-82 5010 j 61-80 5662 51-52 54-13 61-91 1602 30-49 32-90 29-05 12-00 25-88 6-62 1-49 24-28 3-70 600 4-50 0-55 1-10 2-90 7.04* I 9-06f 1-41 19-42J 6-88§ 0-40 0-36 0-47 0-31 0-98 0-89 0-81 1-33 0-67 0-67 4 17 0 6 0 0 5 8 6 5 7 0 5 10 9 6 4 3 2 5 6 3 4 6 3 9 0 Hat Island ilalden Island.. ?ort Adelaide .. 380 260 Thombury Ghristchuroh InvercargiU Thornbury tfot known lr • • 276 Christchurch 1625 8-09 5-68 60-77 9-: !lt 0-56 5 19 3 * Containing iron am blumina, 2-25. § C 1 alumina, 3-45. t Cc iontaining iron and alumina. mtainin; 2-7G. g iron ai ad alu: Gontai mina, 3'( ining iro: 38. { C. n and alumina. mtaini: 7-00. iron and

I go District received from. 4) E3 '3 or I •ass I (3 i III ill f! ! ill d s i 5 3 Id t> O tkEH ® H 237 238 250 251 252 Christchureh 15-32 16-48 22-28 23-15 19-83 9-78 21-64 30-26 49-49 51-53 54-99 1002 20-80 5-13 8-33 13-39 13-68 9-25 6-28 6-52 29-25 29-88 20-21 13-73 14-23 15-86 16-20 10-96 7-45 4-59 9-89 2-75 6-45 8-50 9-20 1-66 3-92 5-11 11-83 11-62 £ s. a. 3 18 6 5 7 0 5 19 8 9 6 8 7 9 Kirwee 259 Christchurch 45' 74 34-73 7-47 16-30 5-76 5-30 4-97 4 12 6 284 286 293 Lincoln .. 14-40 13-37 16-85 50-46 24-53 20-67 3-32 17-84 27-88 15-07 19-78 12-90 32-93 43-17 28-16 11-00 16-11 12-32 5-75 8-37 9-38 10-43 3-71 2-94 9 11 0 6 10 9 4 12 0 347 348 349 Christchurch %. 45' 29 40 ■12 •46 03 16-32 31-10 27-05 11-20 9-80 9-20 24-44 20-39 20-08 8-40 9-85 9-18 18-96 19-79 14-54 3-85 1-68 1-75 4 15 0 3 10 3 10 388 389 15-50 13-27 10-32 12-67 51-64 47-92 5-27 6-35 11-50 13-86 6-21 8-02 11-06 11-77 0-70 063 1 11 6 1 15 4