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season, and stand drought better. It increases the quantity 

 and improves the quality of lint. 



958. As a germicide salt is a very useful manure for 

 lands subject to rust and other fungoid diseases. 300 Ibs. of 

 salt and 200 Ibs. of gypsum used per acre is an excellent 

 preventive against rust. 



959. Carbonate of soda which is formed by the addition 

 of salt to soils rich in lime can dissolve to an appreciable 

 extent phosphate of iron. This is another indirect fertilizing 

 effect of the use of salt, on soils rich in lime. 



960. The mechanical action of salt, like most other 

 saline substances, in producing a good tilth in clay soils 

 should also be taken into account. Granules of clay are 

 flocculated or held together with salt even when it occurs in 

 a minute proportion, and the soil is rendered more perme- 

 able to water and friable. 



961. Air carries with it to long distances sprays from 

 the sea and with rain we get more or less salt washed down 

 into the soil. This is one source of salt in soils. As a 

 general rule, the use of salt as a fertiliser is unnecessary, 

 specially when the land is situated within 150 miles of the 

 sea-coast. 



962. The application of lime, gypsum and salt as manure 

 if done at all should be done with care. It is rich soils only 

 that can afford to part with large quantities of plant-food 

 that are made available at once by such application. Where 

 a soil is poor in potash and phosphoric acid, the application 

 of lime, gypsum and salt, is altogether unadvisable. Clay 

 soils rich in organic matter are particularly benefited by the 

 application both mechanically and chemically, provided they 

 are not already rich in salt also. 



