The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-12-09


Salt rs n Fertilizer.
Common salt is q compound OF chlo-
rine and soda, and is technically known
rs chloride of soda. Chlorine is of
slight importance as fertilizer, being
found in small quantities in the vege-
table kingdom neither is soda alone
of great value in fertilization, as almost
any soil possesses all which vegetation
requires. The animal kingdom de-
mands large quantities Of salt, and but
small portion of potash, while tho
vegetable kingdom requires much
larger proportion of potash. The reason
why human beings consume so much
salt, and why we feed it 10 such ap ex-
tent to our domestic animals, is because
the ordinary food for man and beast
does not contain the amount which the
human and animal Systems require.
Salt or chloride of soda does not en-
ter into combination with nor form q
constituent of any vegetable product,
although it is frequently absorbed by
the roots, carried through the plant in
the sap, where it is often found. salt
is not unfrequently found upon the
leaves of plants, from whence it is
washed by the dews and rains. When
the plant is masured, the salt is not
found therein, the only exception being
in case where it has been applied for
the purpose OF destroying adjacent
vegetation. When salt is applied to the
soil it is generally quickly docomposed,
and the chlorine unites with such limo
as it finds in the soil, for which il has
greater affinity than for soda. Chloride
of lime has but little value as fertil-
izer, since almost any barren soil con-
tains all of this compound which vege-
tation requires. 1t is true that in some
soils the soda produces compounds or
combinations with other elements
which may render it valuable as fertil
izor.
Applied to tobacco, salt is found to
be injurious in its effect this is also
the case in respect to sugar beets.
Both these crops, however, are much
benefited by potash. In some cases
vegetation seems to possess the power
of substituting soda for potash. For
instance, tobacco requires large quanti-
ties of potash for its successful growth,
and when this is lacking an application
of soda will be substituted for potash
by the tobacco plant. Tobacco grown
under the influence Of soda yields 2
leaf which, when used for smoking,
burns less freely than that where potash
has been applied, hence the first-named
tobacco is almost worthless. Potash is
valuable fertilizer for sugar beets, as
is also the case with posphate of lime,
and when the beet plants are fertilized
by these larger percentage of sugar is
obtained from the juice than when
barnyard manure is used. However, il
soda or salt is substituted for potash in
the culture of beets, the quantity OF
any such element as salt has absolutely
entered into the composition of plant
and become thoroughly assimilated, its
taste is entirely neutralized, with
nothing left to indicate the. presence Of
salt.
1t is apractice with many farmers, in
using salt in connection with lime, first
to dissolve the former and then to Stake
the lime with the brine. In such a
case the combination will be the same
rs in the soil. The chlorine will leave
the salt and combine with the lime,
which to a certain extent neutralizes
the effects of the lime. The soda is,
however, liberated to make new COM
pounds in the soil, and may have no di-
rect influence upon the plants and yet
be the indirect means OF increasing
their growth. Ii soil under con-
sideration needed soda. then we have
in salt fertilizer which would greatly
benefit the crops. The chloride Of
lime, however, would not be near as
beneficial as an application of quick
lime, because the latter would quickly
combine with different elements of the
soil and prepare many for plant food
which condition would not exist without
the action of the lime. This action Of
the quicklime would to great extent
be destroyed by the combination of the
chlorine.
Without doubt salt has been used on
some lands with good effects. It's
strongest recommendation has been in
its capacity to produce beneficial
changes in the soil, and this feature of
the fertilizing problem has received far
too little attention and investigation.
The real value of fertilizer does not
consist solely in the immediate effects
produced by its constituent parts, but
also in its power to liberate and set in
action other hitherto dormant elements
of the soil. Phosphate of lime, re-
quired for the proper growth of plants,
and phosphoric acids, valuable in com
bination with other matters, remain in
the soil until needed and appropriated
by plant growth but, ON the other
hand, compounds OF soda are very apt
to leach and leave the soil if not i'm
mediatly taken up by the plants. Hence,
where it is determined to use salt as a
fertilizer, but small quantities should
be applied at any one time,
salt is sometimes recommended as an
application for destroying insects, but
OF its efficacy in this respect We have
no satisfactory proof. Applied to
wheat it is claimed by many persons
that salt serves to stiffen the straw,
causing it to stand up better. In this
case. however, it is the solvent power
OF salt rather than its inherent qualities
that gives il value. Tho strength of
the straw depends in great measure
upon the silicates which constitute its
hard and glossy coat, and which can
only be appropriated by the plant when
in a soluble condition. Soda and
potash combined have the power OF
rendering soluble the different silicatos
which produce this glossy coating for
the straw of wheat and other grains
american Culivator.