138 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



soluble, fertilizing saline combinations with the ammo- 

 niac or volatile alkali and magnesia that may be containecj 

 in the soil. 



Sea salt is found to destroy snails, slugs, grubs, worms, 

 8cc. by making them void the contents of their bodies, 

 evacuations too powerful for them to withstand. By 

 these means, not only their bodies, but their evacua*- 

 tions soon become food for vegetables. It is principally 

 in this point of view that any benefit can be attributed 

 to the action of the muriat of soda, or pure sea salt* 

 \ipon ground. 



Soot is used in many parts of Britain, with very bene- 

 ficial effects, for the destruction of the wire worm, and 

 other insects, which prey upon the young tender leaves 

 and roots of plants. This article, exclusively of carbo- 

 naceous and earthy matters, consists of mineral or resi- 

 nous oil, rendered capable of solution in water by 

 the saline matters^ which are contained in soot in 

 great abundance. The solution is an extremely bitter 

 high coloured oily liquor, which not only poisons the 

 insect on which it may fall, but also communicates a 

 bitter taste to the surface of the roots and leaves of 



plants ; 



