The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-19

The action of salt, or chloride of So
dunn, as a fertilizer is sometimes very
peculiar by. reason of its apparently in
consistent influences. 1t has the effect
I, of checking vegetable growth and at
the same time increasing the yield of
wheat and other crops to which it is
suited. Mangel wurzel, beans, cabbages
and onions flourish with liberal sup
plies of salt. 1t is also highly advan-
tageous to the growth of asparagus.
1t is found in every cultivated plant,
and. therefore. may be considered, in
small quantities, as generally desirable
for all crops. Lands which are near
the seacoast are always literally sup
piled with this ingredient by winds,
which carry it from the sea.
According to Henry Tanner of the
Royal Agricultural College in England,
one of the most important influences
which salt exerts on vegetation is due
to it's power to check plant growth
possibly arising from the action of the
chlorine, which it contains. This is
very important factor in agriculture
and when fully understood will be more
generally utilized. In the case. for
instance, of a wheat crop upon land
that has been too highly MANFRED. the
tendency is to produce straw rather
than grain, the grassy character of the
plant being unduly encouraged.
The growth of straw is sometimes too
rapid to allow the plant to bring up
the necessary mineral matter, as sill
con, to strengthen the straw. The
straw under such circumstances has
not sufficient strength to stand until
the grain is formed and matured. This
is frequently the case on our rich river
bottoms. The consequence is that the
wheat grows up rapidly, and about the
time it begins to head out it beds, and
the result is no yield of wheat grains
The rich limestone soils often fail in a
wheat crop from this cause alone. Ev-
cry observant farmer knows the dan
ger arising from an overgrowth of
straw. The prevalence of rain often
brings about this result, increasing the
growth of straw and diminishing the
yield of grain. Salt is found to be ex-
ceedingly valuable in such cases, CIV
ing a check to the growth of straw
at the same time strengthening it so
that it win bear its burden of grain
| and bring it to perfection.
In fields where highly heterogeneous
manures have been employed an APP
plication of salt will be found to be
highly beneficent, acting as a check
or break upon a too rapid growth. 1t
will also be found highly valuable if
drilled with wheat at the rate of a
barrel per acre on bottom lands or low
places to which the richest soils have
been drifted. The main reason why
salt is not more popular as a fertilizer
is because it's effects are apparently
the reverse of all other manures. Ma
nures generally quicken growth; salt
retards it. Manures deepen the green
of the plants to which they are APP
piled; salt changes the green to a yell
low, typical, for the most part, of a d-
minished vitality. Manures exhibit
their effects almost Immediately; the
good effects of salt are not perceived
until the crop is gathered.
The writer has frequently tried the
effects of salt upon rich places where
the wheat was liable to bed, and al
ways with satisfactory results. If APP
piled literally to such spots, the straw
will stand up and produce a heavy
yield.