Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-03
Agricultural.
From the American Farmer
Action of Salt as 3 Manure.


In illustrating the action of salts generally, Dana
says:
' But let this action be farther illustrated suppose
there is added SALT composed of muriatic acid and
sotla that is common salt to the SOIL By the action
of the living plant, this is decomposed Its soda or
base then acts on geine [nould]s If this has been
long in lnsouble and perfectly useless condition, it
is rendered soluble, and hence supplies plants
with food. very marked and decided effect is per-
ceved from applying small quantity per acre, of SALT
which certainly, OF itself, contains no nurment for
plants"
The effects here produced, may be due to the small
quantity of alkai, acting the indefinite quantity of
geine but the effects often observed, of the minute
quantity of salts, say onehu hundredth of one per cent
OF the soil, hardly compatible with the expana
ton. So far it goes, this is its action but very
probably the quantity of alkai in the salt sown, is
ken up gec salt, and Immediately carried into the
plants The base then is Withdrawn, yet the action
continues. 1t continues through the whole time the
fruit is forming Some other source, therefore, of The
permanence of this action must be sought. That is
due TO the acid constituent of the salt. That, when
the plant decomposeG the salts was let loose and
acts the silcaes of the soil 1t decomposes these,
uniting first with the alkaes, and thus reproducing it.
self. 1t is again decomposed by the growing plant
The same round of action continues Suppose all this
had been witnessed out, almost barren field,
1t is concluded, at once, that there peculiar
virtue in the salt applied, that it is of ITSELF food
whereas, the whole action is in obedience to gen.
eral law applicable TO all SALT
From the whole force of the above, is evident that,
independent of contributing soda and chlorine to the
plants much benefit will be derived from the applica-
ton of common SALT from the power possessed by the
soda. comprising of IFS elements. 10 promote the
decomposition of the inert vegetable matters in the soil
/ from its power of converting insolube substances
into soluble ones-thus preparing them in way to be
taken up by the roots feeders of plantsand in the
power possessed by the other elemen-viZ muriatic
acid-of decomposing the scaes of the soil, and
derng them also susceptible Of being taken up food
by plants; that salt, in lis compound action and
action, provides both organic and inorganic noursh.
ment, for look upon every substance that enters in
TO the composition of plant and promotes its growth
! in that light.
| In connection with this subject, it may not be inap-
propriae to say something about the OF salt, the
quantities to be used, when, where. and how it should
be applied According to the experience of European
agricultursts it is found 10 be most efficient when ap-
piled to lands remote from the coast. Applied TO
soils located inland, from bushels up TO Is, have
been found OF great service whether mixed with barn
yard manure, with composs, and ploughed in. OF
used top-dressing to naked allow or 10 a mead
Applied to lands in the vicinity OF the sea, it has
in most cases. been found imperative; the reason as
signed for lis noIaction in such localities is that the
soil was sufficiently supplied with saline matter by the
spray of the a-water, which is carried for severa
miles inland by the winds, This is a rationa
one, and think it conclusive.
1t is frequently applied 10 naked fallows, top
dressing, soils being prepared for Whedt and othe
small grain crops, with the view of destroying The
wire and grub worms Ii is sometimes with oats
and narrowed in with them, for The purpose as
also, on hungry soils, liable TO suffer from droughts
The salt being active absorbent, tends to maintain
| such soil, in comparatively moist condition. Mixed
in the proportion of busbel of salt TO bushels o
| lime, and bushels of ashes and permitted to remain
under three months before being used, and then
Intimately mixed together. it forms admirable top.
i drnSe andD nd
tatoes and turnps.
I Many of the most iulicious European farmers il
to slake their me-some effect this object, by dissol-
wing the SALT making strong brine, and using it IN
stead of wafer, in the shaking process while others
form alternate layers of lime and salt, in the proper
ton of bushels of the former to 1 of the latter
These composts are made into heaps under cover and
permitted to remain three months before being applied
the heaps are, however, shoveled over before being
spread the soil, in order that the two substances
NAV be intimately mixed together. Lime thus treat
ed or slaked is said TO act with efficiency the
! first year than when air slaked, slaked with water
and we can very readily recognise the reasonable
ness OF this proposition, instead oil one, there are
three agents act upon the soi,-that is. lime, soda
and chlorine, each OF which constituents Of plants
have their peculiar properties, and perform certain spe
cifc Offices.
! With regard TO the quantity of salt TO be used when
used alone we have stated that from 10 l6 bushels
have been found serviceable, and will add, that
quantities above the last named have not been found
10 increase product while, when largely above tha,
quantity, positive injury has been done the salt being
in excess. On the whole. would never more
than from to bushels to the acre !; We these
quantities, because we have used them with decided
advantage We believe, where the refuse salt of meat
packers, and fish packers be had, il will be found
a cheap and valuable manure on lands removed from
The influence of salt water spray Such salt is sold al
- TO Is cents per bushe
From the American Agricuturist
| Growing Rye.
Moses Baker, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, grew win