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conditions. You talk about vegetable matter and everybody 

 agrees that, other things being equal, the better the supply 

 Oi." vegetable matter in the soil, the more fermentation, the 

 more decomposition of available m.aterial, the greater the 

 supply of available potash. There is on the other hand, a 

 difference of opinion as to the part lime plays in making 

 potash available. Dr. Brooks, of your Station, says that in 

 Jiis experiments, lime has not manifested any very great 

 value in increasing the supply of available potash. Dr. 

 Hartwell, of the Rhode Island Station, seems to be inclined 

 to back Dr. Brooks up. at least to some extent. Dr. Brooks 

 also claims that land plaster has not been found to be a very 

 effective means of increasing the supply of available potash 

 out of the soil resources, and that you see is a debated cjues- 

 tJon. 



On the other hand, I find that most of the soil specialists 

 ri New England, that is, taking Connecticut, Rhode Island, 

 New Hampshire and Maine — Dr. Kendall of New Hampshire 

 and Dr. Woods of Maine — seem to think that common salt is 

 well worth a trial as a means of unlocking the stores of in- 

 soluble potash in the soil. I have already told you that 

 some years ago farmers used to salt their manure. I know 

 of old farmers in the vicinity of New Brunswick who still 

 tell me about the wonderful crops of grass they used to grow 

 when they salted their manure before they spread it. You 

 still find a great many of the older folks who have had the 

 experience, say that common salt gives an increase when 

 used on grass land, and I believe there is scientific evidence 

 of more recent date which will bear them out. 



Since the potash scarcity came upon us, I have advised 

 farmers in our State to use salt and I have had reports from 

 n number as the result of last seas'on's experience, indicating 

 that they have found it worth while and that they have been 

 able to supply a larger amount of potash to the crops because 

 of the use of salt. And that until normal conditions are 

 again restored, Ave do not know how long the war may last 

 — we at least have in this material an effective agent, not only 



