The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-06-13
Notes on Common Salt.

AT one time salt was considered an
excellent manure, and was extensively
used with the idea that it contained q
large amount, Of plant food; but the
fact is that neither of the Ingredients Of
common salt, which are chlorine and
sodium, are essential to the growth oil
plants. But coarse refuse, salt. such as
has been used fo-. packing fish and
hides. or for similar purposes. often
contains more rless animal matter that
is valuable as a fertilizer. Pure salt,
like lime, has q chemical action upon
the soil that may prove beneficial; it
also kills large number OF insects and
worms in the SOIL. whose bodies. add
something to its fertility On very dry
soils and in dry seasons, the salt ma |,
in o measure aid in the condensation OF
moisture from the atmospheric and in
this way assist in the growth OF plants.
DIR. Noelcker, who isregardcd as one
of the greatest living agricultural chem
lists, found that salt produced, little OF
no effect upon grain in England, while
it rather diminished the growth of the
straw; and on grass lands it did not in.
grease the produce, though it checked
any tendency to rank growth. When
used on beets. salt increased the weight
of the crop. probably because this plant
is native of the sea shore and thriyes
best where washed by the ocean spray.
Baron ,Liebeg. the greatest of German
agricultural chemists, regarded salt as
quite worthless rs a manure;. and Sir
j. b, Lawes does not consider it of
much value. A. recent English writer
says: $40 apply salt to poor Lands is to
throw away money; on such soils, how
ever. as contain plenty of accomplishing
organic matter, its application W ii gen.
orally prove useful in the indirect man
ner already suggested. for salt in solu-
ton has the power, OF dissOlving phos-
phate of lime. and OF setting nitrogen
lree from, its insoluble compound in
farm-yard, manure '.n.,ii,n 80 II, 4.
Salt, when applied freely to certain
kinds of plants, may be found in small
quantities in their succulent parts, but
it disappears as the, plants rripen, and is
said never to be found stored up in the
seeds. When mixed with nitrate Of
soda, salt forms "a useful top dressing
for wheat, especially ON dry soils. but il
must always be used in moderate GUAM
titles, for If applied in large doses it
will kill both leaves and roots. 1t is
quite probable that salt produces better
results when applied as a fertilizer in
this country than in Europe, and this
may account for its continued use upon
various crops by large number of
farmers. especially i'm regions where it
can be obtained cheaply. 1tIrr
When we come to consider salt in its
relation to animal functions, the case is
quite different to that of plant !, as it is
an essential element in the nutrition of
man as we'll as farm animals. The
is an important mgr dent of
the gastric juice, which is well known
to perform the digestive functions in
the stomach. and it is also found in the
blood and muscles, while the sodium is
required to form SONG of the most char
scteristic constituents of the bic, and
IS said to exist in the blood as phOs-
phate of sodium. Salt is not essential
70 plants, but is absolutely necessary to
most kinds of an mails. In olden times
prisoners were put to q painful and
ingering death by giving them food
to which no salt had been added.
We know that wild animals, like the
ouffalO, deer, antelope. and moose go q
ong distance to what are called salt
ticks, in order to obtain . supply of this
7ery essential substance. Tphl
Salt is one of natures remedies for
Intestinal worms, and no animal that
Eats vegetable food oan long remain
healthy without it Of course, it is
quite possible for men and animals to
'emain healthy without recourse to raw
alt, provided there be enough of
chloride of sodium existing naturally IN
he food consumed, as in the case of the
indians that live almost wholly upon
Wild meat, which contains far more salt |
naturally than the food used by the civ |
lized. ..unless it be added in the prepara-
ion of fOod-a as is the universal practice.
)ur farm animals REQUIRE similar addi-
ion of mineral ingredients to their veg
table food, and to withhold it would
rot only be cruel, but certain to cause
and disease. ,Ba ,@H"
1t may be doubted if salt aids diges-1
ion, bat it certainly increases appetite,
because it impalts, a relish to
he food, and for this reason it may be
.iven freely to fattening .an;mas and
ven to swine, but not in excess of what
J actually required. 1t is not well to
ut large quantity of salt in the
pod of animals, but only lust
nough to ! give it a relish.
nd then place a quantity within reach.
+ where stock may obtain it whenever
hey may desire it. If stock owners,
Tho sometimes complain of their ami
nals wandering away from home or be-
Nc wild and difficult to manage and keep
7Ithin moderate limits. will always
ave. a supply of salt in some one place
nown to the entire herd, they will
nd, the ,straying habits of their stock
realty curtailcd. for all will visit the
pot at least once or twice = week, if
ct oftener. a- rod .-~3sTHi
Salt not only acts as tonic. but is
lso q powerful vermituge, and stock
hat are deprived of it are almost GER
ain to = be troubled with intestinal
rorms of various kinds. Horses, cat
lie. sheep and swine, poorly fed and de-
rived of the requisite amount of salt
nd saline food, are always more or less
fiiicted with internal parasites. Some
hepherds even claim that common salt
not only apreventive, but cure for
yer fluke in sheep; hut its, efficacy in
his case has not yet been fully estab-
shed, for it is doubtful if salt taken
18th the food can reach the liver IN
efficient quantities to. destroy parasites
,dged therein, although it is ba ely pos
BILE that it may do son. y SIN. I I
How to Break Oxen. raa /
''Raising yoke of oxen" said
Testchester County farmer the other
ny, sis good deal like raising chill
rem. You can never tell how they are