Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-03
AGRICULTURAL.
Os WORMS, SLuGs, THEIR DESTRUCTION BY
MEANS OF COMMON SALT. BY G.. w. Joussos

Os Worms, SLuGs AND THEIR DysrRucr1os n,
MEANS OF CoMNoN SALT. BY C. W. JouNsos
Great Tothan, Esser, March I, 1881.
| Sir-A very considerable experience fully war
rants me III the assertion, that, if any growing eror
OF corn attacked by the worms or slugs is sailed
Mt the rate of six or seven bushels per acre, the
destruction of the verrnin will DO complete Ii
may be sown by hand, from common seed bnsk eft
and there is not, let the farmer he assured tbe
slightest danger to be dreaded from The salt nurin
the crop, but quite the contrary effect will DO az
parent: have seen twenty bushels per aero ap.
piled, in March, to a crop of wheat with decided
adva ntagc. Neither let the farmer imagine IN NJ
tho use of salt, for that purpose, is an untried
scheme. Let him take a single worm, the LARGEST
he can find, and put it single grain or crystal
of common salt; lot him do tho same bv the com
mon slug which haunts his fields; and let him
Judge with his own eyes of the rcsult,-the YER
min viii! both perish immediately. And again
let me request him, when lie is convinced of the
power of salt, not to commit the usual blunder of
applying the remedy to the whole field, but let
him, on no account, omit to leave a portion of tho
held unsalted, and then, the more tho worms
abound, the greater the number of the slugs, the
more will the benefit from the salt be apparent
AS regards its application for wheat attacked nv
verinin, | will not withhold from the public n
communication with which was favored from Ia
cob Busk, Esq. of Ponsbourn Park, in HEREFORD
shire, Feb. Is, 1891. He tells me
at is true that have lately made pretty FREQ
use of salt having applied it, in the course Of this
and the last season. a topdressng TO nearly two
hundred acres Of wheat; but my attention has
not been particularly turned to what may be called
IT'S icrtziDg qualities, having chiefly and ulnso,t
exclusively, had in view the destruction of worms
and slugs with which the land was very much in.
tested.
"1hs object is very satisfactorily accomplished
Some small parts of our land is light and sandy but
'hc generality OF II is stiff and stong, well adapted
TO the growth of beans and wheat.
"In applying the salt, little attention was paid In
the quality Of the land nor was the season of the
year much regarded: hut those times and those
spots were selected where the number and rayaocs
OF tho vermin seomcd most apparent, and in oyerv
situation at every time, the effect appeared equally
"a htile more experience may suggest some
more accurate rule ne 10 season; but am inclined
TO think that the earliest will, in general be found
the best; a, my rate I would avoid sowing. if
possibly could, Immediately before fall of snow
as snow produces, on places recently sprnkcd with
salt, an unproInsing appearance which requires
some farther investigation. Perhaps the bost mode
may be, what VIC have worry satisfactorily. in some
Instances trled-to SOW IL on clover leys md or
bean stubbles intended for wheat Just before tbev
arc poughcd.
of, however, there is some doubt rs to the n,osr
eligible quality Of the land period of the wear
there IS none TO tho test state of the Weather
ana time Of the day. An opportunity should be
selected when The weather is mild and moist but
not rainy-when the land il damp. hut not wet:
and salt should never be when the sun is Sb,
nlng but either early in the morning bcfozp IL RI
scs, or late IN the evening after it has set Late
hours We have always chosen. and. c.nrovinv our !
ouEhWcD or other constant labourcrs have got the
work performed ~ in : n3 additional We, nth ,
ca iFteffuPhg At all any ether buainoss ofths farm