The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-07-03
RTR.fL ECO.ND.HN.
From the American Agricuituris.
SALT AS A FERTILIZER, &c.


es has lonr been known both 10 Europe ana
in this country, and why Il has not been
more generally used, is beyond my compre-
hpnsion. More than one hundred snd fifty
wears ago, Sir Hugh Plat, on eminent WI
Ter of the day, speaks very decidedly oil The
benefits which might be derived from the
practice of sprInkling salt upon land, and
calls !; 'the sccefeSt and cheapest, anG the
most philosophical material OF all Others,
lie relates the case of man who, IN pass.
inc over creek on the sea shore, suffered
his sack OF seed.corn to fall into the water,
and there It lay until II was low Tide, when
beng unable TO purchase more seed re
sowed that which had lain IN salt water;
and when harvest time arrived, he reaped
a crop far superior 10 any in the neighbour
hood The writer adds, however, that il
was supposed the corn (grain,) would not
frucuiy in that manner unless il actually I
fell into the sea By chance and therefore,
neither this man nor any of his nelghbors .
ever ventured TO make any further use Of
salt water
That salt is an excellent manure, expe.
rience tho most satisfactory of all e,Iden.
ces, clearly proves.
I'm stated in an English publication,
that "a farmer in the county of Sussex,
some wears since, had field, one part of
which was very wei and rushy, and that the
grass produced upon i was OF 80 sour and
unpleasant a kind, that the cattle would
moi Craze upon it. He tired several meth.
ode 10 improve it, but all TO no purpose; al
last hearing OF the benefits of salt as ma.
nure, he determined 10 try that; Tor which
purpose be procured a quantity OF rock salt,
which 10 random way without any regard
10 the precise quantity no threw upon the
rushy ground, fencing il oG from the other
part OF The fed, the OBJECT OF which was a
total disappearance of every kind Of vcse.
latIon. In short time, however, II pro.
duced the largest quantity of mushrooms
ever seen upon an equal space OF land 10
the country. These, 10 The spring follow
ing, we're succeeded by the most plentiful
and luxuriant crops Of grass, far exceeding
The other part OF the field n richness OF
vendlTe and quIckness Of growth. Though
this salt was laid on twenty wears ago, this
part is sill superior 10 the rest OF the field. ="
From the information which have been
able 10 collect, | ain lnclIned TO believe
that salt, when spatingy applied is yaua.
bic as fertilizer, and useful in killing The
grub aud wire. worm, which otien lnInre.
and sometimes even destroy whole crops
and it has been fJund BY experiment the
pas, season, that tho scaD, or disease which
has proved so disastrous 10 the potato crop
10 all sections Of tie country, Las not been
found on land that had proper dressing Of
salt,
Judge Hamilton, Of Scoharie, informed
the writer that he had found great adyan-
tage from using sall OF his potato ground
las; spring. Alter plowng, he caused four
bushels Of salt 10 De sown on the turrow,
upon one acre Of the dald, and narrowed IN.
Potatoes we're then planted. Part OF the
field vas 10, sailed, Although the season
was remarkably dry, the sated acre was
observed to maintain green, vigorous ap
pearance, " bile the other part looked SEX.
ly and stunted. On lifting them 10 The fail
those potatoes where salt was applied, we're
OF good SIZE, smooth skin, sound, and Of a
good quality, aud yielded fair crop, while
OF those on the uusated part Of the field,
although the soil was fully equal TO that OF
the sailed portion, the yield was consldera.
bly, less, potatoes small, and much eaten by
worms. lis reighbor had field Of poIa.
toes on the opposite side Of the road, soil
similar to his osn, who planted them IL
the usual way the consequence was, his
crop was small IN size, inferior in quality,
aud most Of them rotIed soon after digging
they were diseased.
Doctor Bogart, who has charge OF the
Sailors Snug Harbor, on Staten Island, IN.
formed ne that be applied four bushels Of
sal! to one acre OF hts potato ground, last
spring, and thinks he derived great ben.
eft from il. Though the crop was no,
large one, the potatoes on the sailed
portion were Of much better SIZE, Skin
smooth, and fee from disease. The vines
we're more vigorous, renamed green, while
those co land Of the same quality adjoining
which was 20, eated, shtseled aud die'
Dram8lgfe,y ils potatoes small and So gy
and .sss q1aau:y.
c, W. JDhasol, o tstnguished agrlcul
tural winter, strong s recommends salt 30
mauure d, lae rate Of from zen TO tsent
bushels TO he acre, 70 De ,own Two or thre
weeks before he seed IS put lngo the gtounc
lie says the benefits are as follows: ls
when used IN small portions II promotes pu
trfcaliou. %, by destroying grubs an
weeds. 81, as a constituent 90 direct food
4lh, as slnulant to the absorbent vessels
OH, by preventing !njlry from sudden tran
stlons Of temperature. 6.h. by keeping
the soil moist"
Ii would seem ftom all tue facts hay,
been able to collect, that salt currupls veg
etabIe substances when mixed IA sma
quantities, bu, preserves them when II pre-
dominates 10 mass; that IN dry season
it's effects are moro apparent, aud whe,he
II attracts moisture from the atmospher
or whether it acts as condiment or stln
uian,, ia Of little consequence, SO long as /
effects are certain.
On account Of the small quantity Of sa
IN weight, required for mauurlng lands,
udaftrn a