176 On Salt as a Manure. 



bandry ; though they may appear improbable, or be un- 

 accountable : especially when the test is easy, and 

 cheap. Lord Dimdonald condemns salt in large quan- 

 tities ; but mentions the profitable use oi sea water ; in 

 which there is only one bushel and an half of salt to the 

 ton. Darwin is opposed to the use of salt as a manure. 

 Nothing can exceed the improvement made by the hay 

 of our salt marshes, applied as manure. Plaister will not 

 succeed, where this hay is used. 



An old farm -servant reminds me of a remarkable 

 fact. He was employed in my experiments with salt ; 

 and scattered it in broad stripes across fields, in various 

 quantities. The salted stripes were visible at great dis- 

 tances, especially in winter ; being free from hoar frosts, 

 or slight snows ; when all other parts were covered. Nor , 

 would severe frosts operate so much on them, as on other 

 parts. They continued open, dry, and free from frost, 

 when all the surrounding grounds w^re deeply and firm- 

 ly frozen. He says I strewed salt around fruit trees ; 

 to keep off frosts, and increase their vigor. But in some 

 cases, having salted too heavily, the trees were injured. 

 In others, it appeared to be very salutary. 



I am. Sir, 

 Your obedient servant, 



Richard Peters. 

 Dr. James Mease. 

 Secretary of the Phllad, Soc, for promoting Agrictdture, 



