v.] SPECIAL MANURES. 49 



mation of the corn, so much so in some cases as to 

 give the ear the appearance of having been over- 

 stretched, the spaces between the several grains of 

 corn being larger than usual. When this happens, 

 the production of a good crop of corn is extremely 

 improbable. In such a case as this, the influence of 

 salt would have been most valuable, as it would have 

 checked the excessive growth of straw, and thereby 

 encouraged the growth of corn. It does not prevent 

 the nitrate of soda exerting its full fertilizing power, 

 but it appears to exercise a controlling influence, 

 whereby that power is more satisfactorily utilized. 

 There are, however, exceptional soils, on which there 

 is not the slightest fear of producing too much straw 

 by any ordinary use of manure ; to these cases we are 

 not making reference. Our remarks illustrate the 

 action of salt in those cases where the character of 

 the soil, or the employment of a stimulating nitro- 

 genous manure, favour high cultivation, whilst the salt, 

 acting as a "break to the carriage wheels/' renders a 

 quick pace much more safe. 



92. The tendency which salt exhibits to attract 

 moisture from the atmosphere in some degree influ- 

 ences its employment upon light lands, but for this 

 purpose a salt known as "hide salt" is specially 

 valuable. Foreign hides are often salted for ship- 

 ment to this country, and the salt so used is sold as 

 manure when the vessels are discharged. This salt 

 has by this employment become impregnated with 

 animal matter, which adds to its value as a manure. 



93. Special Manures. These are a class of 

 manures specially prepared for various crops. Each 

 manufacturer supplies that fertilizing matter which he 

 considers best for any particular crop, and he supplies 

 it in that form, and in that association, which his 

 experience leads him to consider to be most likely to 

 produce the best crop. These are generally sold 

 without guarantee as to strength, or percentage of 



