270 BuKEAu OF Fakmers' Institutes. 



Is salt beneficial to land, if so, in what quantities? 



Prof. Cavanaugh. — Salt may be a benefit to a soil, although it 

 contains no plant food. Its benefit consists in liberating plant 

 food locked in the soil. The same is true of lime, plaster and 

 perhaps some other substances. When we apply lime, plaster or 

 salt, the potash may be liberated and thus made available for the 

 use of the plant. , When I was a student in college, we sometimes, 

 when the oil got low in a lamp, poured in water. It raised the 

 oil so that it came in contact with the wick and helped us out. 

 But, after we use such substances a while, they seem to lose their 

 effect. So far as the quantity of salt to be used is concerned, I 

 could not advise. I do not think I would apply more than 400 or 

 500 pounds per acre, however. 



Is muck of any value as a fertilizer, when in its original state? 



Prof. Cavanaugh. — There is a difference in the value of muck. 

 As a rule, its value consists mostly in its humus. Usually a muck 

 soil is sour, and produces best results when lime or wood ashes 

 have been applied to sweeten it. 



To Mr Cook. — What is the best fertilizer for all crops? 



Answer. — Good barn manure first, for any crop, but save it all. 

 Use absorbents in the gutters behind the cows, to hold all the 

 urine. Dissolved South-Carolina rock is the best, because it fur- 

 nishes the gypsum, or what we know as land plaster, and fur- 

 nishes phosphoric acid, beside. 



Do you advise the using of any form of commercial fertilizer for corn, 

 if you have barn manure enough? 



Answer. — I think it pays to use a little nitrate of soda, say 50 

 pounds, mixed with 150 or 200 pounds of South-Carolina rock, 

 about 200 pounds per acre, and apply it in the hill to give the 

 plants a quick start. If one were using 400 or 500 pounds, it 

 should be broadcasted, else the plants would be burned by the 

 nitrate of soda. Use a small quantity, just to start the plants 

 rapidly, putting the mixture in the corn hills. 



What is plant food? How shall we cause our exhausted fields to 

 become fertile? 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — There are several elements of plant food, 

 but there are but three that are of vital importance — nitrogen. 



