of Salt in Horticulture, (S^ 



ficial effects of common salt in horticulture, have observed, that 

 salt has the property of attracting moisture from the atmosphere, 

 and hence it is possible much of the important results may be 

 derived. It is probably owing to Ike property which salt has 

 of absorbing moisture, that it is customary, in bringing the 

 cuttings of curious vines from abroad, to dip fhem in salt water 

 before they are put on board. I have indeed been assured, that 

 cuttings of the myrtle and other shrubs may be brought from a 

 distance, with more certainty of their living, if they be pre- 

 viously dipped in a solution of common salt. Cuttings of the 

 weeping-willow, the Salix Babylonica of Linnseus, which is a 

 native of the East, could never be brought into this country 

 alive, until the expedient of steeping them in salt water was 

 adopted. 



Requesting to be forgiven for these digressions, I shall con- 

 clude this branch of the subject in the words of a late vene- 

 rable writer, who had probably made more experiments on the 

 effects of common salt in horticulture, than any other indivi- 

 dual in Great Britain. " Every thing," said he, " that is sown 

 or planted in a garden or hot-house, should have a quan- 

 tity of salt sown on the surface of the ground round it. By thus 

 regularly forcing vegetation with salt, all the productions of the 

 field and garden would be brought to maturity three weeks or a 

 month sooner than they are by the present method of cultivation, 

 as well as the various grains being much improved in weight 

 and solidity, and the fruits in richness and flavour*." Sir John 

 Sinclair, in quoting this passage, remarks, that ** the advantage 

 which is derived from the application of Dutch ashes, (so full 

 of saline particles,) to the gardens in the Netherlands, is a full 

 confirmation of this doctrine." 



The SECOND property which I have assigned to common 

 salt, when employed in the cultivation of a garden, is that of 

 rendering esculent plants and fruit-trees unfit for the food or 

 the habitation of worms and insects. Upon this, and the re- 

 maining branches of the subject, I must, however, be very con- 



• Hints to Country Gentiemerif Sfc. By John Hollin^shead, Esq. Third 

 Edition, p. 19. 



