318 Mr. Johnson on Saline Manures, 



manure, which would keep for any period, and be forwarded 

 into the most inland districts, at the seasons most convenient 

 for the farmer's employment. 



A mixture of sprats, lime, and common salt, would form a 

 rich soapy compound of the most fertilizing description ; or 

 on the coast, slaking the lime with sea-water, would answer 

 nearly the same purpose. 



Supposing forty bushels of the mixture to be sufficient for an 

 acre, the first expense would then not much exceed twenty shil- 

 lings. Say thirty bushels of sprats, at sixpence per bushel, ten 

 bushels of lime, at the same rate, and half a bushel of salt, at two 

 shillings, would altogether come to about twenty-one shillings. 



Common salt and lime when mixed together, gradually de- 

 compose each other ; the result of the decomposition is soda, 

 and a peculiar deliquescing salt muriate of lime. This salt, 

 from its great attraction for the moisture of the atmosphere, is 

 an admirable fertilizer for sandy hot soils. 



A plan similar to this, is actually adopted in China, but in- 

 stead of fish, night-soil is used with the lime ; the whole mass 

 being made into cakes like bricks, is afterwards dried in the sun 

 and sent into the inland provinces for the use of the farmers. 

 So universal is this practice at Pekin, that these cakes are said 

 to form no inconsiderable portion of the circulating medium of 

 that great city. 



Sprats are found in inexhaustible abundance on most of the 

 British shores ; as much as 120 bushels have been taken at a 

 single haul ; they abound in the river Thames from November 

 until March. 



The same observations apply to herrings and other fish 

 which are found in great abundance ; and it might perhaps be 

 highly useful to establish something of this kind on the coast 

 of Ireland ; especially in those places where at certain seasons 

 the supply of fresh fish far exceeds the demand. 



The farmer, therefore, who has to contend with a poor soil 

 in a barren country, ought, of all other agriculturists, to turn 

 his attention to the subject of saline manures. If his land 

 wants moisture, let him- employ common salt 5 if it needs ani- 

 mal and other decomposing matters, let him use bone-dust ; if 

 his land refuses to bear red clover, sainfoin, and lucem, let him 

 manure it with gypsum. 



