Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-10

SALT AS A FEKTILIZER-We recently
came across a report of the discussion OF
the Rio farmers club, of Wisconsin, on
this subject, and as it includes the expert
ence of many who have used salt on wheat,
we give it in this connection. 1t will be
noticed that the statements are positive
and unequivocal. Spring is recommended
as the best time to apply. but we suppose
this refers to spring wheat;
Mr.. Seth Allen opened the discussion by
giving lis experience in the use of salt
upon his land; and stated that he had first
used it on his farm eight years ago, and
that it added fully fifty per cent to his yield
of wheat that year. That for wear or
TWO thereafter he did not use salt, on
account of the cost; but that he became
thoroughly satisfied that free use of salt
WAS Indispensable to the success of his
farming operations; and that he has used
it every year since. resulting in increased
crops of grain of improved qualitY-hs
wheat from sailed land never grading
below No. ,, while that from unsalled land
was inferior in both quantity and quality.
AT first he had used at the rate of one
barrel of salt to three acres, but now uses
one barrel to two acres. Other members
giving their experience and observation,
| fully corroborated all that Mr.. Allen had
said in behalf of the use of salt as Il fertil-
| izcr; and after full consideration of the
subject, the conclusions arrived ut were as
follows:
That salt has the property of Fastening
The maturity of all grain crops; that wheat
on sailed land will ripen six or ten days
earlier than on unsalted land all other
conditions being equal. That it increases
he yield from twenty-five to thirty per
cent. That it stiiienS the straw, and
| prevents rust and smut. That it checks il
1t does not entirely prevent the rayages oil
the chnch-bug; and that there is no
danger of Il mans pocket allowing him
TO put too much salt upon his land, as
two barrels per acre will iniure no grain
crop.
In answer TO questions as to the best
time and manner Of sowing salt as also
! The proper quantity to use, the following
answers We're given: The best time to
SOW salt is in the spring; and it ought to
be the llrst thing done on either fall or
spring blowing, us all the after stirring
OF the land assists in its equal distribution
through the soil. The best and easiest
method Of sowing salt, in the absence of Il
machine for that purpose, is 10 SOW it from
out of the hind end Of II wagon--lhe sower
using both hands, while the team is moving
At slow walk; in this way, thirty to
| forty acres can be sowed in one day. The
quantity used may be from one hundred
and fifty to three hundred pounds of salt
per acre; but the greater quantity is the
better.
In regard TO the quantity 10 be applied,
there is 10 rule We have instances re.
corded where twenty bushels per acre,
even more, have been applied with good
resals. But the majority of testimony is
is favor OF the smaller quantty-a barrel
or two per acre. We have seen the well
known salt and lime mixture used with
The hest results. Use one pound of suit
to three Of lime, mix thoroughly, and let
1t stand two OF three months. Sow il
broadcast ten to fifty bushels per acre. 1t
Is gool Tor almost any crop. ohio Furm-
en-.