The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-04-19
Agrirulturat.
SALT.

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The experiments Of Boussingault have
been, rs we have seen, elsewhere more
particularly referred to; but are better
described in what follows from johnston.
The more recent trials of the value of
sdA}in fnttcning sheep. (as fond or sab us
horned cattle were also particularly de-
tailed iii late number Of the London
Agricultural Gnzetic, which We sent away
4 10 nm esteemed friend near Ashcvitsc, N.
sCs, In both cases the animals were weigh
sotl before tho trial commenced and after
(. being slaughtered d.-Thcir food, loo was
ncsnme precisely where the salt WAS
given and where it was not; and with
both cattle and sheep the sal, proved 10 bp
ssuperHuous.a
The following nrc the observations Of
Professor Johnston:
5f; Il is known that wild animals arc fond
. pf salt, and in some countries eagerly fre-
.lnenl salt-licks for tho purpose Of obtain.
ing it.-Our domestic animals also, are
known to relish 1t; and us the constituents
fsc0ln,non5 salt nrc always present in the
SflQids3 Of the animal body, it is believed
bygnnny TO be absolutely necessary, and
licuhh OF the stock to which it is given.
II is the Union of some, also, that it
Inns san actual feeding or laucnirg tendon
cy-muking the same amount Of food 90
farther in sustaining tho life of The animal,
or III adding to its weight. That i, has
any such direct tendency, however, is rem
dcretl very doubtful by the result Of some
recent experiments by Roussingault. Hc
. selected number Of hciicrs, divided
them into two lots and fed them respcc-
lively for foriy-four days on the same
quantity Of food, giving 10 tho one lot Il
gully allowance Of salt, nn'l to tho other
none. AT the end Of The time both lo,y
had increased in weight, ana were
apparently in equal health.
1t does not appear, therefore, TINT in all
circumstances common salt is likely TO
add to the nutritive value Of tho food with
which il is mixed. There may be cir
cumstanccs, however, in which the use Of
salt may cause animals to increase more
rapidly in weight; md in reference to this
point There are several circumstances
which deserve the consideration OF the
practical man.
1st.s When animals arc htening it is
often Of great consequence to induce them
to consume large quantity Of food in
limited period Of time. The addition Of
salt has the effect Of giving relish to the
food, SO a5 to awaken and appetite ip an
otherwise apparently satiacd beast. 1t is
thus induced to cat, and 10 perform upon
itself, though in less degree, the opera
,ion Of cramming, by which poultry arc
so quickly fnttcncd.
Cd. When hay or other similar food
becomes musty and offensive TO cattle, Il
sprinkling OF salt often removes their dis.
like, and induces them 10 cat what they
otherwise reject. The same food may in
this way, also be made TO 90 farther.
Sd. When salt is given to cattle they
are moro inclined to drink--in reality they
drink much moro water than when no salt
is given. In some cases this may be an
advantage, especially when the water con-
tains any ingredients by which tie health
Of the stock is likely to be promoted. But
the thirst produced by the salt is often
made TO act in another way. To cattle
tied up TO fatten lump Of salt is prescn-
ted, of which, by constant licking, they
consume large quantity. But no wafer
sgiyen them and they are, therefore,
driven by way Of sluking their thirst to
consume greater weight Of the watery
tur.ip. In this way, again, the process
Of cramming is promoted and specdier
fattening ensues.
4th. Lastlv,-though in the expert
mentof Boussingault the use Of salt added
nothing to the comparative weight, it may
be different with olhers kinds Of food, and
with crops raised in other localities. Thus
itmaygbc assumed that certain quant-
tyof salt Is necessary TO tho healthy condi-
lion of al, animal. This sal. it obtains
from It's food or from it's drink But the
quantity Of salt in the food varies with the