1S37.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



677 



to the young pasture, although the bottom was 

 (iill of gras? ; but although quite covei-ed with 

 |iiants, vet lewer of them perfected and shod their 

 p'^eds than in two other experiments, in which 

 Heligoland beans were dibbled along with the 

 turf. 



From tlie Genesee Farmer. 

 ECOXOMY IN FKEDING WITH HAY. 



WitK many farmers it is considered sufficient 

 that horses and cattle are fed with hay once, or at 

 most twice in tweiity-lbur hours; and they would 

 firobably object to the trouble and labor of leedinir 

 them more ii'equenti}'. They ouffht, however, to 

 reflect, that the injury which fodder sustains by 

 the breath of the animal constantly blowing and 

 condensing upon it, thus rendering it disagreieable 

 and liable to be rejected and wasted, often occa- 

 sions a loss, which gready overbalances the tri- 

 fling saving of labor and trouble. Some farmers 

 think that there is no danger of animals sufiering 

 from hunger so long as there is plenty of hay be- 

 fore them : but if this hay has been lying a day 

 under their breath, it will be found to have be- 

 come so disagreeable and loathsome to them, that 

 they cannot be made to eat it freely, without ac- 

 tually starving them to it. What farmer is there, 

 who would be willing to eat a dish of Ibod, the 

 surface of which was covered with the gathered 

 condensations of the breathing of twenty succes- 

 sive hours ? Not many, 



it ought, therelbre, to be a rule with farmers, to 

 give little hay at a time, and repeat it frequently, 

 taking care at the same time that what was last 

 given be consumed belnre any additional supply is 

 offered. By this management, none of the fodder 

 will be lost, and the animals will derive the advan- 

 tages of having fresh and wdiolesome food, for 

 which they will at all limes liave a good ap[)e- 

 tite. 



There is another point of economy which is well 

 worthy of attention. It is not an uncommon oc- 

 currence, particularly in wet seasons, and often in 

 consequence of bad keeping, that a considerable 

 quantity of hay is more or less injured, so that cat- 

 tle do not eat it freely, and it is frequently thrown 

 aside as bad hay. Now cattle may often be made 

 to eat this readily, and without any injury to them- 

 selves, by wetting it with brine, which not only 

 renders it agreeable to the taste, but also has a 

 beneficial effect on the animals, particularly in 

 winter, when salting is apt to be neglected. In 

 perlbrminff this operation a quantity of brine no 

 greater than is sufficient to render it moderately 

 damp should be applied, or else it will be unpala- 

 table. The same efi'ect will be produced if the 

 brine is too strong. It may be conveniently ap- 

 plied with a common watering-pot. In mild wea- 

 ther, a considerable quantity may be prepared at 

 a time, by sprinkling successive layers of hay 

 and leaving it in a heap, but it should not be allow- 

 ed to ferment. The moisture thus becomes equal- 

 ly diffused through every part, and it is in a better 

 state than when freshly brined. In the same way, 

 siraw may be rendered very palatable for cattle, 

 generally quite as much so as common unsalted 

 hay. 



From tlie Southern Agriculturist. 

 SALT AS A MANURE FOR COTTON. 



Mr. Editor. — Will you do me the favor to in- 

 form me, whether you have ever used salt as a 

 manure for cotton 7 — if so, how is it used, and in 

 what quantities ? I have been for some years back 

 using the salt-mud, and salt-marsh, with the 

 greatest success ; and every one who has tried 

 them can testify to their e.xcellenee, as a check to 

 too superabundant growth. 



If you can answer my queries, Mr. Editor, or 

 if you can get some of your correspondents to do 

 so, you will confer a favor upon 



ONE INTERESTED. 



St.^y^ndreiv^s Parish, Dec. 12, 1836. 

 Answer. 



We have been giving the subject, about which 

 "One Interested" inquires, the most diligent in- 

 vestigation ; and we are happy that it is in our 

 power to offer the desired information. 



Common salt, as a manure for plants, has been 

 long known to agriculturists in Europe, and in this 

 country. Its properties are however, as a stimu- 

 lant, and not as a nutritive manure. Count Chap- 

 tal, in his admirable work on " Chemistry applied 

 to Agriculture,'" lays it down that, it is in this 

 manner that salt always acts upon the plant ; and 

 the e.xperience of every planter bears evidence to 

 his position. What spices and pickles are to 

 man, salt is to vegetables. It serves to increase 

 the appetite of the plant, to invigorate its diges- 

 tive organs, and to give a healthy tone to all of its 

 functions of life. By combining with the aliments 

 of the plant, and by carrying on an uniform de- 

 composition, it gives a more regular supply ot" nu- 

 trition. 



Acting, as salt does, purely as a stimulant, it 

 should, consequently, be supplied only in suitable 

 proportions. If it is supplied in too large quanti- 

 ties, it will be absorbed by the organs of the plants 

 in such a manner as to produce irritation and dry- 

 ness ; and it is in this way, that the best soil is 

 sometimes stricken with barreness. 



But to the point in question — how much salt 

 can be used without injury ; and in what man- 

 ner? 



The Honorable Whitemarsh B. Seabrook, of 

 Kdisto Island, informs us, that lor two or three years 

 in succession, he tried the experiment with salt as 

 manure for cotton. The salt he made use of was 

 common rock-salt, well pounded up ; and the land 

 upon which it was applied, if we recollect aright, 

 was of a lifrht sandy nature He applied it to the, 

 task row (105 feet) in quantities fi-om one pint to 

 one quart. The result was as follows: The row- 

 manured with one pint of salt produced excellent 

 cotton, which from its gt rmination to its maturity, 

 assumed a healthy and vigorous appearance. The 

 cotton bore well, and its staple was strong, and 

 the seed well covered with wool. Wherever a 

 larser amount than one pint was apjilied, the plant 

 went through the process we have supposed in 

 our general remarks. It grew luxuriantly at firs?; 

 but, before maturity, it became dry, and seemed 

 gradually to die away with thirst. 



As nearly as we can recollect, it was the opin 

 ion of Mr. Seabrook, that unless the soil was na 

 turally good, it was best to apply the salt mixea 



