182 APPENDIX. 



We have no reason to disbelieve the testimony that has been 

 offered at various times, and from a wide range of experi 

 menters, although it is so contradictory in its character. 



If the various statements concerning the use of salt as a fer 

 tilizer are true, the important question arises, How are we to 

 know when it will be useful, and when otherwise? 



This question can only be answered by the repetition of ex 

 periments, which must be made under a great variety of cir 

 cumstances, and under conditions that are accurately known 

 and defined. 



In conducting such an inquiry, it is of the first importance to 

 gather from the existing stock of experience, all the facts which 

 throw any light either upon the question itself, or upon the 

 methods of investigating it. 



Under the conviction that a multitude of careful trials may 

 be instituted among our farmers, with the prospect of explain 

 ing the contradictions of former experience, or at least of re 

 vealing the valuable fact that salt is capable of doing the agricul 

 turist great service in many localities where it has not yet been 

 tried, and also of contributing to the education of the public 

 in the objects and methods of experimental agriculture, we 

 have drawn up from various sources the facts, assertions and 

 probabilities which may serve as guides in attempting the solu 

 tion of this problem. 



1st. We know that the constituents of common salt (chlo- 

 *ine and sodium) are unfailing ingredients of all agricultural 

 plants, although they exist in vegetation in very variable, usu 

 ally quite small amount. 



2d. We know that in many instances (perhaps in all where 

 this subject has been accurately studied) the use of salt as a 

 manure has increased (often doubled) the amount of salt in the 

 crop. 



3<7. We know that crops having large foliage contain (and 

 require ?) more salt than those of the small-leaved and few- 

 leaved kinds. 



