Elizabeth-Town gazette., 1819-02-16

portant discovery. II has been proved Dy
experience that those lands which have
been covered by the tides, produce grass
and corn superior to any other: and when
the farmer can produce foul salt, to i'm
prove his fields, they never fail to return
abundant crops, which proves that COM
mon salt is replete with the same fertiii-
zing qualities as sea-water, II is also well
known, that common salt contains alkali
equal to the nitre, which enriches the
lands in China and the low grounds in
Egypt. But common salt will be found
preferable TO nitre, because pure nitre
suffers the extra heats to inhale moisture !;
while the alkali, which is combined with
the acid Of common salt, 10 so fixed as to
attract an additional moisture. This then
is true magnet to water; for heat equal
to boiling water will not dry sailed soil.
AS ii is generally agreed that air and
water with what is dissolved in them,
constitute the food of plants /; TO cultivate
land in such manner, as 10 make it re-
lain a proper quantity of air and water,
would in all probability, be the best
means Of rendering it fertile. 10 that
view, soil to be perpetually fertile, must
be endowed With power to retain air and
water sufficient for its plants; and at the
same time must be of a nature that will
not harden by moisture. Salt promises to
answer all these different purposes; for il
will prevent the soil from being hardened
by water, and also invigorate it by its re-
tentive alkaline and acid qualities. These
suggestions almost amount to proof, that
common salt is that desirable object, which
when properly used will be found the
true acid solvent, So essentially necessary
10 prepare matter proper for the food of
plants. Salt, if generally used, would
probably be the cheapest, best, and most
universal manure in nature. When the
English farmer intends to turn his land to
tillage, in autumn he sows double guam
tity Of salt in order to destroy grass, ,rusbes,
weeds, fern, worms, snails. &c. The
whole is by that means converted into a
rich manure, which supports three sue
cessive crops, and leaves the soil, after all,
in good condition. This mode of prepa-
ration appears TO be superior TO any other.
Some farmers have sown 100 lbs. of salt
on one acre of land as soon as pIomghed,
in order to meliorate the soil, before the
seed is sown. They have also laid on
meadow grounds, as soon as mown, and
pasture lands, IN ,uinter, about the same
quantity. When salt shall have been in-
troduced upon commons, bills and noun
tains, they will exhibit as rich verdure
as salt marsh, and prevent the rot in
sheep. Salt should be used in composts,
hot-beds and hopgrounds, and might be
sifted in small quantities around plants and
fruit trees, several times 10 the year, to
advantage.
NoTE--Since the above was prepared
for the press, have been informed that a
farmer, in neighbouring town, eminent
for his skill and perseverance, has made a
very satisfactory experiment with salt, at
the rate of tho bushels to the acre, on
meadow land. He has very much in
creased the quantity of hay, and entirely
cleared his groasnd Of nsoles. A farmer 10
this town, also, has been successful in ex.
perimens upon plougbed and grass land.
To avoid excess, perhaps the dressing
should not e.rceed three bushels to the
acre for the present. AS this is favora.
BILE season for experiments on pasture land,
the farmer will soon be able, at small
expence, to try its efficacy.
Connecticut Courant.
Hartford, January 8, 1919.