P 179 0 
On Salt as a Manure. By Richard Peters. 
Read March 13th, 1810. 
Belmont February 15th, 1809. 
Sr, 
As agricultural occurrences turn up, I mention them, 
that we may preserve them; for use, or consideration. 
A Mr. George Redd of Frederick county Virginia, call- 
ed on me with a little pamphlet he has published ; en- 
titled ‘* A late discovery &c. relative to fertilizing poor 
and exhausted lands,”’ &c. I found this ‘‘/ate discovery,” 
consisted in the use of common salt as a manure, applied 
in small quantities. His means of discovery were, at first 
the accidental observations of the moisture produced 
by salt in the driest seasons; and the great resort of 
earth worms, to places on which pickle or salt had been 
thrown. I know that those worms are attracted to such 
places ; but if they remain but a short time there, they 
die. I told him, that when a boy, it was my habit to 
sprinkle salt, or salt and water, in dry seasons, to cause 
the assemblage of earth worms, and furnish myself with 
bait for angling; and I was never disappointed. I re- 
lated my frequent experiments with salt, on acres divid- 
ed into square perches, at rates from 20 pounds to half 
a bushel per acre: and my frequent top dressings in 
every way.* And although I found the smaller quanti- 
* These experiments were made, and often repeated, more 
than 30 years ago. Occasionally I have since tried some of 
them. But I have never been encouraged to pursue the prac- 
tice to any great extent. 
R. P. 
