72 Farmers^ Miscellany. [Jan., 



had been salted, the ensuing crop has invariably escaped mildew, 

 although that disease had affected all the grain upon the lands 

 adjacent, on which salt had not been used." 



It has been asserted that salt is the mother of all manures, as 

 every kind of manure is higher or lower in value according to 

 the salt it produces; and every kind of manure is portioned out 

 to the land according to the quantity of salt or nitre it is thought 

 to contain. 



" Nothing in nature," said Hollingshead, " is so powerful as 

 salt to meliorate strong and stiff soils, and also to give moisture 

 to dry ground; it is also a certain destruction to weeds and in- 

 sects. Besides its efficacy on corn and fallow ground, its excel- 

 lent qualities, in giving luxuriance and salubrity to grass lands, 

 are peculiarly worthy the attention of the grazing and breeding 

 of cattle." 



" Soils," says an old writer, " which are subject to the grub, 

 and must be fertilized by common dung, which is a proper nest 

 for the mother beetle to deposit its eggs, must be well impregnat- 

 ed with the brine of dissolved salt, after the dung is first cut up." 



The efficacy of salt in destroying noxious weeds, grubs, and 

 insects, is well known, in all parts, but a dose sufficient to kill 

 weeds, would also destroy the cultivated crops; therefore, great 

 attention and caution should be taken in not applying too much 

 when intended to fertilize the soil. 



As to the quantity of salt which it would be advisable to use 

 per acre, for the respective crops and upon the different kinds of 

 land, will be best learned by instituting a set of experiments upon 

 every distinct species of grain and roots. Cold, wet land requir- 

 ing more, and loose, light land, though it be poor, requiring less. 

 Four bushels to the acre, harrowed in after plowing, has been 

 found a sufficient quantity on most soils, for corn and potatoes, 

 but the best way of all others for ascertaining this point, would 

 be for every one to depend upon the results of his own experi- 

 ments. 



To ascertain the exact quantity of salt which may be necessary 

 for the different kinds of land, and to appreciate the benefits which 



