273 STATE BOARD OF AGRIUULTURE. 



setting other niateriiils loose; and salt is very useful on this account, because 

 it is not readily absorbed in the upjicr layers of the soil, but often leaches 

 througii into the lower layers; and it will have the effect of setting these ma- 

 terials free all the way down. The German farmers say, however, that you 

 must be careful in the use of salt. If you put on too much it injures the veg- 

 etation. Further, it will not do to put it on loose soil. A very loose, sandy 

 soil is not ordinarily benefited by the application of salt. Again, it is best ap- 

 plied to soils which contain considerable humus. And, finally, it should be 

 used on soils which are in pretty fair condition as regards the contents of fer- 

 tilizing elements. On soils which are not too loose, which have a good amount 

 of humus, and which are in ])retty fair condition as regards the amount of 

 fertilizing material, organic and inorganic, contained in them, it is oftentimes 

 a good thing to apply salt." [Pages 229-30.] 



I here present some extracts from an article by Dr. Voelcker, "On the 

 Functions of Soda-salts in Agriculture." "It is true we find soda-salts, more 

 especially common salt, in almost every kind of agricultural produce, and their 

 presence is commonly regarded as a proof that they are absolutely necessary 

 for the very life and growth of our cereal and forage crops. The mere pres- 

 ence of certain constituents in plants docs not, however, prove that these con- 

 stituents are indispenable. Such a conclusion is only established when the 

 withdrawal of one or more elements of nutrition or the substitution of oth- 

 ers in their place, is marked uniformly by an unhealthy growth and final fail- 

 ure. * * * 



"On the other hand, the fact that mangolds or grass contain a good deal 

 of common salt when the soil on which they are grown is naturally rich in 

 salt or has received a good dressing of it, does not by any means prove that 

 salt is necessary. * * * 



"Although I do not look upon chloride of sodium and soda salts in general 

 as essential ash constituents of plants, I am far from denying the beneficial 

 effect which salt is capable of providing in particular cases. Indeed my own 

 experience leads me to admit that salt is a useful and cheap manure, which, 

 judiciously applied, frequently yields a large increase of corn, roots, or hay and 

 seldom does any harm. 



"On 2^orous, sandy soils, roots, especially when the season happens to be 

 dry, arc apt to pass so rapidly through all the stages of growth that their leaves 

 begin to drop before they have had time enough on the one hand to collect 

 atmospheric food, and on the other to accumulate mineral matter from the 

 soil in sufficient quality for the development of an abundant crop of bulbs. 

 On sucli soils the application of one cwt. has given me a large increase in roots, 

 and seven, eight or even nine cwt,, so far from doing any harm, increased 

 the product of mangold by 2^- to 4 tons per acre. On the other hand, it does 

 mischief where it is applied in excessive doses to stiff, wet, clay soils, and soils 

 generally which are cold, and bring their grain, root, and grass crops slowly to 

 maturity, for salt has a remarkable tendency to prolong the period of vegeta- 

 tion and delay the arrival of maturity. * * * * * * 



"As common salt certainly has the power of prolonging the period during 

 which our cultivated crops can be kept growing in the field, much advantage 

 can be derived from its use by the intelligent agriculturist, who, bearing in 

 mind the circumstances under which it is desirable to prolong the life of plants, 

 will chiefly employ it as a top dressing or otherwise where he has to do with 

 light, porous, and naturally dry soils. 



"It will be seen that the value of a fertilizing agent does not always depend 



