DOES SALT MAKE TPIE GRAIN HEAVIER ? 151 



wheat is given, as follows, in some of Mr Fleming's published 

 experiments : 



1842. 1843. 1844. 



Salt. No salt. Salt. No salt. Salt. No salt. 



Oats, . . ... 421 421 ... 44 40j 



Barley, . . 57 55 ... 56 56 ... 



Wheat, . . 621 61 ... ... 



From these results it appears that the effect is by no means 

 constant. It is desirable to ascertain, therefore by salting cer- 

 tain portions of the same corn-field, and leaving certain other 

 portions unsalted upon what circumstances the alleged increase 

 of weight per bushel depends. For example, does it depend 



a Upon the kind of grain ? 



b Upon the physical nature or chemical composition of the 

 soil? 



c On the quantity of salt applied ? 



d On the period of the year when it is laid on ? 



e Would its action be aided or diminished by applying the 

 salt in successive portions at successive periods? 



I think this alleged increase of weight in the grain is quite 

 consistent with the view I am inclined to take of the sensible 

 effect of salt that it tends to diminish growth, and to hasten 

 the ripening, and make it more perfect within a given time. 

 The produce may weigh more per bushel, either because the 

 grains are less, or because, being equally large, they weigh 

 more. In either case, they will be more compact and dense ; 

 but it will be not uninteresting to ascertain to which of these 

 two immediate causes the increased weight is owing. It will 

 determine, in some measure, whether the growth or develop- 

 ment of vessels is merely retarded, and thus the grain made 

 more solid j or whether more solid matter is actually deposited 

 in each seed in the same time the deposition of the substance 

 in reality accelerated instead of being retarded by the action of 

 the salt. 



In either of these two ways it is clear also that the greater 

 compactness of the straw, if it really be more compact, may be 

 explained. Either the salt causes the plant to build a thinner 

 wall, but to fill it up and make it more solid, or to make the 



