The southerner., 1852-11-20
From the Annerican Farmer.
Salt as a Manure.
Rock Springs, Sep. II, 1852.

RocE Springs, sep. IL, 1907.
To the Editorofhe american Farnacr-ii
SIR:-You would render a service to
your subscribers to your agricultural
paper, by stating the effects of Salt as a
manure-the quantity per acre, and
when to be applied before seeding
Salt is said to be used in England in
great abundance, and to great good ef-
feet as a manure, We have not known
it be used in this country"
Remarks by the Editor ct'tAc An,erican
FGrnter,
Salt, as our correspondent suggests,
has been used extensively in England,
and we believe it to be, when judicious-
ly applied, an excellent manure, but,
like many other good things, may be
used to excess. We have used it on
three descriptions of crops, and, as we
had cause to believe, with decidedly
good effects.
We applied it to corn, oats, and tur-
nips. TO the corn we applied 2 bush
els to the acre, broadcast, just after the
corn was planted; the season proved
very dry one. The piece Of ground on
which the salt was sown, was all ma
nured alike with stable and cow-yard
manure-to one-half was applied salt in
the proportion stated-on the other
half no salt was applied. Now as to
the result. The corn on the part salted,
remained of dark green healthy color
until the fodder was pulled-the blades
on the other part were early burnt, and
twisted up so badly as to yield compa-
rativcly little fodder-the yield Of grain,
also, was considerably less.
We sowed oats On piece Of ground
much infested with acornas, and after
narrowing in the oats, broadcasted salt
over at the rate of 2 bushels to the acre
the injury from worms was speedily
arrested. Oat plants left after few
days unharmed, maintained healthful
green color throughout the season; ma
turcd few days later than another
patch soWn about the same time-the
yield was fair one.
We applied 6 bushels of salt on 2
acres Of Turnips with good effect.
Its effects are said to be these: |.
That it acts as All absorbent of moisture
from the atmosphere. 2. Destroys
worms. 3. Facilitates the dccomposi-
tlon of organic matters, and thus pro.
vldes food for the growing plants.
We know by the analyses of most
plants, that soda and chlorine are detect
ed in them, and as these are chief ele.
ments of common salt, we infer that
they are essential ingredients in mos
vegetable products; and if not pre-ex
isting in the soil in sufficient quantities
that it can be very advantageously ap
piled.
Its modes ofoppIcotion, are-1. B,
composing with barn-yard and othc
manures; and 2. BY sowing broadcas
after the seed may be sown, and th
ground narrowed.
Q"Gntfty per ocre.-Opinion varies
as to the proper quantity per acre
While some have applied as large /:
quantity per acre, as 20 bushels, other
are content with l, 2, and 3 bushels
Our own opinion, is, that bushels i
about the right quantity. 1t is but fai
to remark, that, in England, practic
seems to have settled down upon
bushels ofsalt to one of seed.
IA That portion of the following lette1
On the duty of farmers to disseminate impol
'aHt facts in agriculture, we PARTICULAR
SoLlHena TO our readers.
ON THE USE OF GUANO.
CHARLESTON, S. G., June26, 1852.
10 the Editor Of the An,eriicau Farn,e,
Dear sir-Bclieying that it is th