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On Salt as a Manure. By Richard Peters. 

 Read March 13th, 1810. 



Belmont February I5th, 1809. 

 Sir, 



As agricultural occurrences turn up, I mention them, 

 that we may preserve them ; for use, or consideration. 

 A Mr. George Heddof Frederick county Virginia, call- 

 ed on me with a little pamphlet he has published ; en- 

 titled '* A late discovery &c. relative to fertilizing poor 

 and exhausted lands," &:c. I found this ''^late discovery y"^ 

 consisted in the use of common salt as a manure, applied 

 in small quantities. His means of discovery were, at first 

 the accidental observations of the moisture produced 

 by salt in the driest seasons ; and the great resort of 

 earth worms, to places on which pickle or salt had been 

 thrown. I know that those worms are attracted to such 

 places ; but if they remain but a short time there, they 

 die. I told him, that when a boy, it was my habit to 

 sprinkle salt, or salt and water, in dry seasons, to cause 

 the assemblage of earth worms, and furnish myself widi 

 bait for angling ; and I was never disappointed. I re- 

 lated my frequent experiments with salt, on acres divid- 

 ed into square perches, at rates from 20 pounds to half 

 a bushel per acre : and my frequent top dressings in 

 every way.^ And although I found the smaller quanti- 



^ These experiments were made, and often repeated, more 

 than 30 years ago. Occasionally I have since tried some of 

 them. But I have never been encouraged to pursue the prac- 

 tice to any great extent. 



R. P. 



