376 



SEA 



SEA 



degree, a run at grass is the only 

 remedy ; if a dry pasture be 

 procured where a horse can be 

 sheltered in bad weather, and fed 

 with hay and oats, it will be found 

 extremely convenient, as in such 

 circumstances he may perform his 

 usual labour, and at the same time 

 be kept free from the complaint." 

 — The Complete Farrier. 



SEA WATER, this fluid, besides 

 water and parti;, les of common 

 salt, contains, according to Dr. 

 Russel's account, sulphur, nitre 

 and oil. 



As it undoubtedly contains much 

 of the essence of animal and vege- 

 table substances, by means of the 

 perishing and consuming of both in 

 it, it is fitter than mere salt to be 

 used as a manure, whether by it- 

 self, or in compost. 



In the year 1786, one hundred 

 hills of potatoes near the shore 

 were watered with sea water, 

 about two quarts on a hill, being 

 one hour's work of a man. The 

 crop was half as much again, as in 

 the same number of hills adjoining. 

 The water was applied to the soil 

 ijust after planting the sets, which I 

 suppose to be the best time for 

 doing it, as there can be no danger 

 of burning the young shoots, and as 

 the salt will be mixed with rain and 

 the moisture of the earth, before 

 shoots are produced. 



In the year 1787, alternate rows 

 were watered in the same manner 

 with sea water. The result of this 

 experiment was uncertain ; be- 

 cause by ploughing otF and on al- 

 ternately between the rows, the 

 earth of the watered and unwater 

 ^A rows was blended together. But 



altogether, a good crop was "ob= 

 tained. 



The same year a piece of flax 

 was, in the month of June, very 

 short and yellow on one side of the 

 piece ; but of a good colour on the 

 other, and much taller: This in- 

 duced the owner to water the poor 

 side from the sea. In ten days it 

 was equal in length and colour 

 with that on the other side, though 

 very little rain fell in the time. 

 At puJling. the watered side was 

 evidently better grown than the 

 other. This was a sufficient de^ 

 monstration of the advantage of 

 sea water, when the land lies ad- 

 joining to the sea shore ; so that 

 the labour of applying it is incon- 

 siderable. 



The above experiments were 

 made in a clayey soil. 



In a sandy soil, the same year, 

 watering the ground where French 

 turnips were just sown, had an ex- 

 cellent effect. Though it was a 

 spot where the turnips had been 

 destroyed by insects, several years 

 successively, they generally escap- 

 ed this year. Not more than one 

 pailful was applied to a drill row 

 two rods in length, wetting the 

 ground over the seeds, soon after 

 sowing. 



Salt water applied to tender 

 plants, most commonly proves too 

 strong for them, if applied when 

 the ground is dry. But if it be 

 wet, the strength of the water is 

 abated by mixing with the juices 

 in the soil, before it is taken up by 

 the roots, and thus it is rendered 

 ituiocent and safe, as I have foimd 

 by experience. The seeds bear 

 the application of the sea-water, 

 better than the young plants do. 



