m^ 



1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



179 



landed interest of all the States, would command the 

 respect of all classes, and might do more for the ad- 

 vancement of agriculture in one year than Govern- 

 ment now does in ten. That a national organization 

 of some kind will be effected before many years, we 

 have no doubt ; the leaven is already at work, and 

 in time the whole lump will experience its influence. 



SALT AS A rEHTILIZBR, AND FOR STOCK. 



At the request of Baron Mertbns, Belgian Minister 

 at the court of St. James, the council of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society made the properties of common 

 salt the subject of discussion before one of the weekly 

 meetings of said Council in which Professor Way 

 and SiMONDS, and others participated. All the 

 speakers concurred in regarding salt as an element 

 of fertility in the production of wheat, turnips, car- 

 rota and other crops ; but Prof. Wat doubted its im- 

 portance as a food of plants. He said that when an 

 ordinary soil was stirred in a weak solution of salt, 

 the quantity of lime set free (dissolved) " was im- 

 measurably greater than before the salt was added to 

 the water." The lime he supposes before existed as 

 an insoluble silicate, which by some chemical action 

 of salt on the silicate named, and not as yet studied 

 or known, a soluble chloride of lime is formed and a 

 soluble silicate of soda. This reaction would enable 

 common salt to furnish, indirectly, silica to the stems 

 of wheat and other cereals, making a bright glassy 

 straw. It would also yield lime in combination with 

 the chlorine derived from the salt. Mr. Meciii had 

 used 150 tons of salt on 170 acres of land during a 

 five year's occupation. He found it essentially nec- 

 essary for cattle and horses, when fed on wheat straw 

 cut into chaff with bean meal. If salt were not 

 given, their coats appeared rough and unhealthy ; 

 but with salt they" were sleek and healthy. His pigs 

 and sheep also had salt. Horses and cattle received 

 two ounces daily, yearling calves one ounce. With- 

 out being able give the scientific reason, salt gave 

 strength and brightness to the wheat straw, and pre- 

 vented its lodging. He applied it at the rate of 3 cwt. 

 per acre, mixed with the same weight of guano. He 

 also used a large quantity under the animals, to fix 

 the ammonia in their manure, which it did far more 

 effectually than gypsum. He had known of great 

 advantage resulting from mixing it in the dunghill. 

 It was very beneficial to mangold wurtzel. It cer- 

 tainly, with all deference to Mr. Way, appeared to 

 render the land more wet and adhesive. He thought 

 it would not be so beneficial on undrained heavy 

 lands. Early on a hot snmmer's morning he had 

 observed the grains of salt formed a wet spot, as 

 though they had attracted moisture from the dews. — 

 Professor Way explained that common salt might be 

 a better fixer of ammonia than gypsum, on account 

 of its greater solubility. Salt, from any deliques- 

 cence it occasioned, might affect land in regard to 

 color and resistance to the action of frost ; but mois- 

 ture was not the simple cause of the good effects of 

 salt. Mr. Dyer instanced the deliquescent effect of 

 salt in bacon-salting rooms, where uic pr"9ment was 

 constantly damp. He had even known milk spilt on 

 deal boards years ago, which now in damp weather 

 always attracted moisture where the milk iiad been 

 originally absorbed. Mr. Fisher Hobbs referred to 

 the power of the fishery salt to fix ammonia, and 

 used it frequently with guano with a view to that 

 object. Baron Mertbns expressed to the Council 



his thanks for the kind manner in which they had ac- 

 ceded to his n^quest, on the part of the Belgian Gov- 

 ernment, thattliis subject should receive the attention 

 and give rise to practical discussion. He would only 

 further trespass on their time by inquiring whether 

 any experiments had been made to ascertain the in- 

 crease in the weight of milch cows, and of the milk 

 they yiol.led, in conesquence of the use of salt as part 

 of their food ? The Rev, A. Huxtable, having a 

 dairy of forty milch cows, had foand it difficult" to 

 make experiments on that express point : but Bous- 

 singault had last year given an account of exper- 

 iments similar in their object to those which were 

 now the subject of Baron Mertens' inquiry. On 

 motion of Col. Challoner, seconded by Lord Brid- 

 port, the thanks of the Council were given to Prof. 

 Way and Prof. Simonds for the favor of the state- 

 ments they had on that occasion made to the members, 

 on a subject interesting and important in itself, but 

 dependent on various circumstances of condition, and 

 a clear elucidation of scientific principles, for its cor- 

 rect comprehension and practical application. Mr. 

 Raymond Barker expressed a hope that the learned 

 Professors would kindly consent to deliver these 

 short introductory lectures more frequently to the 

 members at the weekly sittings of the council ; a re- 

 quest to which Prof. Way and Simonds expressed 

 their willing assent. 



Qrbitorial (Eorresponlinta. 



p. BARRY'S LETTERS TROM EUROPE AND THE 

 WORLD'S FAIR. 



THE PASSAGE. 

 Steamship Arctic, June 2, 1851. 

 Friend Vick : — We expect a couple of days more 

 will carry us into port, and in anticipation of this, I 

 avail myself of one of the most charming days I have 

 ever enjoyed at sea, to give you a few facts and inci- 

 dents concerning our ship, voyage, company, &lc., 

 intended especially for those who have felt interest 

 enough in my fate to bestow a conjecture now and 

 then on " what sort of a lime I have had." 



You know that we sailed on a most delightful day, 

 just such as one might wish for, who was leaving 

 home, wife, children, and friends, to cross a wide and 

 dangerous sea. There is a sadness creeps over one 

 on looking back upon the fading outlines of the land 

 that contains all that he really loves on earth, and it 

 takes a bright day and cheerful faces around, to keep 

 the heart from sinking into absolute misery. That 

 first day and the second were fine, calm, clear and 

 beautiful, and there was nothing but health, hope, and 

 happiness to be seen in every face. Tuesday was, 



however, a little rough and then . The tables 



that before were crowded were now in greater part 

 deserted. The cheerful notes of music and laughter 

 that before were rising from every part of the ship 

 changed into melancholy sighs and groans. Sea 

 sickness had fairly taken hold of about two-thirds the 

 passengers, and we had a changed time of it sure 

 enough. From that tim.e mdny have not been on 

 deck at all, but the greater number have recovered, 

 and the tables are pretty well occupied again. 



I must say a word or two about our passengers. 

 Tliey are in number 140, and present an assortment 

 as great as one would suppose it possible to obtain 

 even by special effort. We have persons from nearly 

 every state in the Union^ from Mexico, South America, 



