106 On the Uses of Salt in Agriculture. 



iMr Curwen finds, that salt prevents what is called the sickness i 

 the northern parts of England, or the braxy in Scotland, by which so 

 many thousand young sheep are annually lost; a discovery of the 

 greatest importance in those parts of the kingdom. 



Hogs. Great quantities of salt are considered to be injurious to 

 hogs ; but in America, salt is occasionally given to them, to render 

 them tame, and to prevent their being lost in the woods *. Mr Cur- 

 wen also mixes some salt with the steamed potatoes which he gives to 

 his hogs, and he thinks with benefit. 



Poultry. Salt also, may advantageously be given to poultry, and. 

 may prevent some of those disorders to which they are liable. The 

 avidity with which pigeons consume salt, is well known. 



On the general Uses of Salt to Stock. This article is found ser- 

 viceable, in restoring the tone of the stomach, when impaired by any 

 excess, either of food, or of labour. It improves the quality of their 

 dung, and renders the sprinkling of it with salt unnecessary. It ren- 

 ders stock tamer. Mr Curwen finds that the sheep gather round the 

 shepherd, and will hardly suffer the salt to be deposited on the stones. 

 It overcomes all their natural fear and timidity of disposition : and as 

 to other cattle, it brings the wildest of them to feed out of the hand. 

 In America, milch cows are so fond of salt, after being a little ac- 

 customed to it, that if tempted to wander in the woods, they are sure 

 to return, in order to procure their usual allowance. But above all, 

 it preserves the health of stock. Mr Mosselman, an intelligent far- 

 mer in the Netherlands, who keeps above 100 milch cows, oxen and 

 calves, 23 working horses, and 250 sheep, has used salt for five years, 

 during which time his whole stock have been perfectly free from dis- 

 orders. 



On the Modes of giving Salt to Stock. Some give it in a pow- 

 dered state on slates, stones, or coarse cloths. Others put large lumps 

 of rock-salt, in the cribs or mangers of their stables and cow-houses, 

 or hang it up so as to be accessible to cattle or sheep, who obtain, by 

 licking, what they require. In Sweden, they imagine that the good 

 effects of salt may be greatly promoted, by what are called licklings 

 (slekor). They consist of salt, pulverised wormwood, and juniper- 

 berries, and are given, either in a coarse powder, or made with tar 

 into a thick broth, or electuary, put into a hollow fir- trough, placed 

 in the middle of the sheep-house, over which branches of fir are nail- 

 ed across, to prevent the sheep from soiling themselves with the broth. 

 Others mix brimstone with this pottage, and make balls of it, which 

 may be particularly suitable for such sheep as are subject to eruptions. 

 Some persons also mix with it tansy (tanacetum vulgare}, bay-ber- 

 ries, and gaiiick, as being good for the worms and the dropsy. 



10. It has a tendency to prevent Rust or Blight in Wheat. In 

 the course of a most extensive inquiry into the causes of the rust, or 

 blight in wheat, and the means of its prevention, it appeared, that 

 Mr Sickler, a farmer in Cornwall, was accustomed to manure his tur- 

 nip land with the refuse salt from the pilchard fishery ; and that any 



Birkbeck's Notes on America, p. 138. 



