On tJte Uses of Salt in Agriculture. 107 



ground thus treated, was never liable to the rust or blight, though it 

 infested all the neighbourhood *. 



This important circumstance is confirmed in a recent communica- 

 tion (dated 15th May 1818) to the author, from the Reverend Ro- 

 bert Hoblyn, whose wheaten tillage, on a farm in Cornwall, was in- 

 creased from 20 to 40 and 50 acres per annum. He used one ton of 

 old salt, with one ton of fresh fish, mixed with earth, and from 20 to 

 30 ton of sea sand, and his crops, he states, were always good, " and 

 " never infested with rust" 



It is probable that the salt, is the only article in this compost, that 

 could be of material service in preventing the rust, by its checking 

 putrefaction, the result of too frequent a repetition of corrupted ma- 

 nures. It is well known, that the rust does not attack plants in a state 

 of perfect health. Its general cause is, the over- fulness, or over-luxu- 

 riance of the plant, from its being glutted with rank and unwholesome 

 food. Hence the advantage of applying smothering crops, as tares, 

 potatoes, hemp, &c. which prevent the growth of rust. Hence wheat 

 planted in a rich compost of dung, attains such excessive luxuriance, as 

 to become rusted, and incapable of bringing its seed to perfection f. 



Conclusion. 



There is every reason to hope, from this enumeration, that impor- 

 tant benefits to agriculture will result from the reduction of the du- 

 ties on salt. But the anxious endeavours of Parliament, to promote 

 the interests of the farmer, will be in vain, unless he resolves to avail 

 himself of the boon that has been thus conferred upon him. For that 

 purpose, his attention to the various particulars above stated, is most 

 earnestly requested. 



No. IX. 



ACCOUNT OF MR HUNTER OF TYNEFIELD*S SYSTEM OF FARMING. 



THE system of farming adopted in the more improved districts of 

 Scotland, being much celebrated, it may be proper to give the follow- 

 ing account of the plan pursued by Mr Hunter of Tynefield, near 

 Dunbar, who is justly accounted one of the most intelligent farmers 

 in East Lothian. It goes upon the principle, of converting nearly all 

 the straw of a farm into dung. 



Mr Hunter's farm consists of 350 Scotch, or 437 English acres. 

 The horses kept for labour are sixteen, or about one horse to 27 



* Husbandry of Scotland, vol. ii. A pp. p. 150, note, 

 f Hayward, p. 160. 



