The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-06-01
AGRICULTURAL.
SALT-lTS USE IN DESTROYING
VERMlN AND WEEDS.

We turn again to Johnson's Book OH fertili-
gers. Under the head oil common salt, he
gives numerous experiments with different quail
tiles of that substance, applied to the various
grains, vegetables and grasses; but as we doubt
whether the price of the article this country
would not make ii inexPedlcnt TO use II, IN pref
crence to cheaper and more efficient manures,
we choose rather to extract what he says of il
as TO its effect in the destruction of uermin-and
this we do in some hope that II may be adven.
1ageously employed as means of arresuing the
ravages of pestiferous worms flies and other
insects, that infest our fruit trees aud fields of
cotton and grain; increasing in variety and
voracitv of late years in such degree, as 10
threaten the annihiaton of some fruit and or
namental trees, and seriously 10 impair the val
ue of cotton plantations.
There is says the writer before us, no agrl'
cultural use of common salt more undoubted
than in the destruction of vermin. The effect,
too is direct, and the result Immediately appa-
rent. For This purpose, from five to ten bush
els per acre are abundantly sufficient. The
anricuI,urist need be under no apprehension
that the salt will destroy his crop, for twenty
bushels of salt may be applied 10 young wheat
with perfect safety. | have seen twenty-five
bushels used with advantage. No person has
perhaps used salt for this purpose to d greater
extent than Mr.. Busk, of Ponsbourn, IN Hert.
Yorkshire. ! have used it. said this gentleman,
in a communication 10 the author, in this and
the last season $3.50 and 81; as top dressing
10 nearly 200 acres of wheat, having almost ex.
clusiyelv in view the destruction of sugs and
worms with which my land was very much In
fes.ed and this object is very satisfactorily ac'
complished. Some part of my land is light
and strong, we'll adapted 10 the growth Orleans
and whoat. In applying the salt, little atten-
ton was paid to the quality of the land, or the
season of the year; but those spots and those
times were selected where the number and raw.
ages of the vermin seemed most apparent, and
in every situation and in every time. The effect
appeared equally beneficial. A little more
experience may perhaps suggest some more &C.
curate rule as TO season, but am of opinion that
the earliest will in general be found the best;
at any rate, would avoid sowing, if | could,
Immediately after fall of snow-as snow pro.
duces on places recently sprinkled with salt, an
unpromising pPearance:-perhaps the best
mode NAV be, what we have very satisfactorily
in some instances tried. TO sow it on cloverlays
and bean stubble Just before they are ploughed.
If however. there is some doubt as 10 the most
eligible quality of the land, or period Of year,
there can be none ss TO the fittest stale OF the
weather or time of the day an opportunity
should be selected when the weather is mild and
moist, but not rainy-wben the land is. damp,
but not wet; and salt should never be sowed
when the sun is shining; but either early in
the morning or late in the evening, after sunset.
We sow it out of an ordinary seed shuttle at the
ratio of four or five bushels per acre. In the
morning each throw may be distinguished by
the quality of slime, and the number of dead
slugs lying on the ground. The finer and dri.
er the salt is, the better. The positive advan.
tage, adds Mr.. Busk, cannot state accurately