Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-03

They SOW il out Of tho ordinary seed shuttle at
the ratio of four five bushels to tho acre. Ton
or twelve mon, moving mt once get over large
piece OF land in evening and are easily drilled,
as to proceed with regularity and despatch, by
little care on tho part of tho superintendent.
'ln tho morning, each throw may be dstin-
gulshed by the quantity of slime and number of
dead sugs laying tho ground.
'l'hc finer in grain and the drer the salt is tho
better. What have used has been procured from
town, at about l0d por bushel, which brings tho
expense, with carriage and spreading. to about 6s
or Is. per
'Tho positive advantage I cannot state accu
rately in figures, but confident it has, i'm every
instance, been considerable, and, in some fields, 1t
has certainly been the means of preventing the
total destruction of the crop"
With regard to sailing oats, barley, &c. solely as
protection from vermin my experience has been
very limited but have invariably found the effect
of the salt to be the same as upon wheat. NV val
ued correspondent, J. Walker, Esq of Benwel,
near Newcastle, in letter not long since resolved
says
~ cannot, however, omit that, last season. tho
oats in this neighborhood were much troubled with
grub; therefore, sowed from six to eight bushels
of salt per acre, and my crop fifty bushels,
whilst that of my next neighbor was not ten, per
acre."
And in O1fordshirc, in 1925 on the farm Of Mr.
John Slater of Draycoto, six bushels of salt were
applied by hani to field of oats much infested with
slugs and worms in tho month of April and, al
though. au adjoining field, equally attacked by tho
same vermin, had its crop of oats completely dos
troyed, the sailed crop was entirely saved. The
after effects too, of thus destroying tho suCs.
worms, nc. arc very beneficial, for the remains of
the verinin absolutely become manure to the very
plants on which they once fed; and the effect and
number ofsuct predatory vermn is much greater
than is commonly imagined. Unless the crop DO
partially destroyed, the farmer is seldom Induced
to notice their ravagcs, although, in minor cases.
| the unsecn loss is very considerable, and much
more important than it is usually estimated
n INff cd .,,I. t1p
Journal, L, at some length, entered into the Gucs
ton of the advantages of salt condimcnt for
horses, cattle, and sheep, either IN their in
hay: and, for this important purpose, l have the
qualification OF saying that its has been stead
iy increasing. and that too, in all weathcrs, and
good or III adverse times. AS n manure too,
shall on future day, have 10 communicate TO your
readers much that is important regards its m
ploymcnt rs fertilizer; but that is question far
too important TO he made theme for only portion
ct single communications and, besides, it is,
fortunately Tor our country, the most difficult
branch of the research. As fertilizer, however,
It's employment is steadily increasing; and when
experience shall have given the farmer still moro
confidence, ii will, am quite sure, be considered
as by far the most important agent in his possession
| In conclusion, Sir, let me again imploro the ag-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. crops arc attacked, suspected
even of suffering, by the slugs-to make
trial ofthc value of common salt, iii is but
cre and, if Inc attends carefully the instructions
OF those whose labours havo reported in this al
ready heightened letter, he will not only benefit
himself but the land which gave him BIRTH
Let me also assure your numerous readers, that
shall always be ready to give the Jealous at
tcniion to any letters, reports, experiments, in
which can be of use in this important research.
| Eleven years have elapsed since my Essay on Salt
was published; but not single has passed a.
way without some additional testimonial to the i'm
portance of the subject and although in this period
have-in NJ. Curwen, Sir Thomas Bernard and
Mr.. Parkcs-lost three my most talented and
most Jealous assistants, yet still, 1 am proud to
say, the use of salt agricultural agent in spite
of prcjudioc and inattenton, is proceeding most
triumphantly. would suggest that it would be OF
incaculabe service, at this period of the year il
tho local country papers were to quote this letter
| from your valuable Journal.
| British Farmers Journal.