EFFECTS OF SALT ON GRAIN CROPS. 



143 



influence of this chloride as well as they do under that of com- 

 mon salt ? Can potassium perform the functions of sodium, or 

 can the compounds of the two take the place of each other ? 

 This is not so much an inquiry for the practical man ; it is one, 

 however, upon which the man of science, who has the oppor- 

 tunity, might exercise himself, with the conviction that he was 

 adding to that stock of useful facts and deductions on which 

 the most profitable practice of agriculture is based. 



3. Results of experiments with common salt applied alone. 



Common salt has been applied to the land in various ways, 

 for various purposes, and with various degrees of success. 



It has been used alone, dug or ploughed into the land, 

 harrowed in with the seed, and laid on as a top-dressing on 

 grass, on young corn, and on root crops. It is mixed with the 

 manure in the fold-yard or with the compost heap, is sprinkled 

 upon the manure when it is spread in the drills, is used in a 

 state of mixture with other saline substances, or is applied along 

 with quicklime. 



Among the purposes for which it has been used are those of 

 killing weeds, the seeds of weeds, and insects injurious to crops, 

 of increasing the quantity of grain and root crops, of improving 

 their quality, and of adding weight to the grain, and strength 

 to the straw, especially of wheat. 



From the numerical results of successful trials as to its effects, 

 which have been published from time to time, I select the 

 following : 



