The southerner., 1852-04-10
'Esle Application Of Salt as
a Manure.

The application of common salt as
fertilizer has been partially understood
and practised by few of our agriculture
lists, but we very much doubt whether
the full benefits of this substance have
been derived by those even who have
made the experiment, and in some de-
gree realized the advantage it affords.
1t may be applied advantageously di-
rectly to the soil, or it may be mixed
with the dung heap. It is found bene-
fetal to pasture as we'll as root crops,
swectening vegetation and rendering it
more wholesome. 1t attracts the hu-
mid vapors and repels frost, thus assist
ing in keeping the land moist in dry,
and warm in cold weather. Salt rem
ders all the ammoniacal compounds less
volatile, and helps to prepare the food
of the plant for vegetable alimcnt.
When applied plentifully to the manure
heap, it destroys all vermin, and the
germs of life in the seeds of weeds and
noxious plants arc by its effects entirely
exterlninated.
In making use of salt in the manure
heap, or compost-bed, but little should
be used if fermentation is desired, as in
large quantities it retards, and will fire
quently entirely suspend it; but shor'
time previous to the application of the
manure to the land, salt may be freely
used with great service to the crops
Mixed with lime and it's compounds, il
undergoes decomposition, producing so
da or it's combinations with carbonic a
cid, which is powerful digcster ano
feeder, and forms muriatc of lime, whicl
has the strongest attraction for moisture
Of almost any known substance With
gypsum, it will supply, soda and sui
phuric acid cheaper than any other ma
terial, and is very good safeguard a
gainst blast, mildew and disease in grain
and vegetables.
/ When salt is applied to the soil a
the rate of about ten bushels to an acr
of either grass or vegetables, it render
the product more nutritious, and gener
! ally increases the yield about one-fftf
: The wheat crop is also increased by it
: use, from four to seven bushels per acre
7 For asparagus, or seakale, it may b
t used in much larger proportions, usin
2 from two to three pounds per squar
: yard, forking it in early in the spring
e This application renders the produe
much more palatable and tender, an
! destroys all weeds and noxious vermil
! rendering it's culture most easy and il
It growth more vigorous and rapid. 1t
also said to bring crops forward nearl
d ten days earlier than when planted wit
l. out its application.
IL As a stimulent to vegetable substa
d ces, salt has been long favorably know
it in England, and various experimen
is have been made confirming this trut
n DR.. Priestly added to vials each contai
ing a ounce and half Of water, vario
D. proportions of common salt, from one
a. twelve grains, and in the solutions pl;
TO edvarious sprigs of mint and other We
Il etables. In those solutions which &C
Of tanned more than twelve grains, t
0, plants died Immediately, and the otht
s. died in their ordey except that viii
I'd contained three grains of salt, viii
is seemed to grow as well as plants gre
a ing in simple water. It was remarl
at BILE, however, that this plant, as we'll
Id those that died in the strongest so
g. ltions, seemed to flourish at first %