MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 265 



Onondaga county the thermometer has marked 80 degrees and upwards for 38 

 days, 15 of which were over 90 degrees; and it was a scorching time for spring 

 grain. For the Last trial I drilled, on six acres of corn-stubble ground, one 

 and three-fourths bushels of wheat, and sowed six bushels of salt broadcast to 

 the acre. A strip was left without any salt, which was very light; on this 

 ground the dew dried off quicker and the wheat headed out two days later, 

 with the straw darker colored and badly crinkled down." [Vol. XLII., p. 4. 



"The statements of your correspondent, Mr. C. W. Fish, in your number 

 for January 4, prompts me to say what I have for some time intended to do, 

 to wit, that the application of salt upon grain crops is a growing practice in 

 this country. A very considerable demand for salt for this purpose has been 

 established in our southern towns. Dirty salt, or that of an inferior quality, 

 is as efficient as an)', and comes cheaper. It is ap^ilied at the rate of from one 

 to three bushels per acre upon barley, wheat and oats. One bushel of salt is 

 good for three or four bushels of grain. The best results were formerly real- 

 ized when salt was sown on barley, the production being increased several 

 bushels. If sown pretty freely, say three or four bushels per acre, the benefits 

 are visible for several seasons. The experiments of S. M. Brown several years 

 ago showed that the application of salt on winter wheat was obviously advan- 

 tageous. The effect seemed to be seen in the stiffening of the straw, by which 

 its falling down and rusting, thus shrinking the berry, was prevented. If the 

 effect upon spring wheat is what Mr. Fish represents it to be, all central and 

 western New York can go into the production of that variety and make it 

 profitable. If we can raise 30, 25 or even 20 bushels of spring wiieat to the acre 

 at an expense of 10 or 13 shillings for a fertilizer, Minnesota and other western 

 States, where the average yield only comes up to six or eight bushels, would 

 soon find us formidable competitors in the eastern markets. 



For a long period salt has been used to a large extent on the growing crops in 

 Great Britain. It has been there ascertained that 16 bushels per acre will kill 

 all kinds of vegetation. Eight bushels per acre may be safely applied. From 

 two to four bushels per acre would probably insure sufficiently favorable results 

 in this country. There can be no doubt that the farmers would obtain valua- 

 ble returns from the use of salt upon their grain crops." [S., Syracuse, N. 

 Y., p. 83. J 



SALT IN CANADA. 



Having seen a communication in your last issue upon the application of salt 

 as a manure, I fully endorse the good results from its use as expressed by your 

 correspondent. In Branch county, where I reside, its non-application will 

 soon be the exception and not the rule, as the material benefit accruing to 

 those who have used it is such as to make us feel that our success in growing 

 good crops, particularly barley, depends to a considerable extent upon its appli- 

 cation. Experiments have been tried, such as leaving strips in a field without 

 any salt, resulting in such a contrast as to cause any one not knowing the facts 

 to wonder at it. * * * * [W. B. U. (p. 115). 



SALT A3 A FERTILIZER. 



Seeing an article in your paper of February 8th in regard to salt as a fertil- 

 izer, I will give my experience in regard to it. Two years ago I sent to Syra- 

 cuse for one ton of refuse salt washings, which cost me at my nearest railroad 

 station 87.10, and as it was r;ither lumpy and moist to drill, I pulverized it on 

 my barn floor, and mixed with tlie salt as much hardwood ashes as I had salt. 



