72 Mildew. 



the addition of four tons of salt, or the greater part of it, the ef- 

 fect of which may possibly be perceptible in the succeeding crops. 

 The greatest benefit to agriculture, from a general and liberal use 

 of salt, may reasonablybe anticipated, — besides opening a new and 

 extensive source of trade, and giving employment to thousands. 



Whilst four ounces per day to any animal were considered sfs 

 ample, the general consumption at this rate would reach, it was 

 supposed, 300,000 tons annually : subsequent experience has con- 

 firmed this estimate, which possibly may be greatly increased, 

 should an augmentation of the daily allowance of stock be found 

 a beneficial measure. 



16, Chapel Place, Jan. 23. 1819. J. C. CuRWEN. 



The duty on rock salt is 5/. the ton ; the cost of the salt \0s. 

 It may be obtained by application in writing to the excise officer 

 of the place, who then grants a certificate. The salt may be 

 transferred frovn any stock, on application to the excise officer, 

 who grants a certificate, by which any quantity, not less than 

 eight stone, may be had, Messrs. Home and Stackhouse, of 

 Liverpool, have offered their services in furnishing salt at (51. per 

 ton, on receipt of the excisemau's certificate, the purchaser paj- 

 ing the freight. 



MILDEVl'. 



The following is a communication from Sir J. Sinclair : — " The 

 blight or mildew in wheat is by far the greatest calamity to which, 

 in an agricultural point of view,this country is liable. As it origi- 

 nates from corruption and the growth of the fungus tribe, it seems 

 to me most probable that the use of saline manures would be 

 found the most efficacious preventive. Many circumstances, al- 

 ready communicated to the public, tend to justify that idea ; and 

 it is now in a great measure confirmed by an experiment that 

 has just been reported to me by Mr. A. Robinson, at Almond 

 Myrehead, about \6 miles from Edinburgh. On the 1st of No- 

 vember 1818, Mr. Robinson sowed 28 lbs. of marine salt on three 

 falls of sandy land, mixed with the seed wheat — this at the rate 

 of 26 bushels per Scotch, or about 20 Imshels per English acre. 

 The crop was reaped on the 27th of August 1819, and the part 

 salted produced at the rate of about three bushels per acre n)ore 

 than the rest of the field. The whole crop was much injured by 

 the rust, otherwise called blight or mildew, excepting the part 

 thai was sailed; which though not altogether free from it, yet 

 the injury was very inconsiderable, and perhaps would have been 

 totally avoided, had a greater quantity of it been made use of. 

 Mr. Robinson thinks that it will be better first to sow the wheat 

 separately, the salt to be sowed and harrowed-in afterwards ; for 

 he found that the wheat did not spring up so well, in consequence 

 pf its being sown in immediate contact with the salt. Crushed 



rock 



