MANURES, THEIE KINDS AND USES. 51 



soda compounds. Every soil, and every animal and 

 vegetable manure, contain this salt, and generally in 

 sufficient quantity for the direct needs of most plants. 

 Storms may blow the salt-spray of the ocean fifty miles 

 inland. The coast lands, the Gulf and Atlantic shores, 

 of Florida, must be abundantly supplied with it to meet 

 the direct wants of a crop. 



Plants which naturally live upon the sea shore, like 

 asparagus, generally abound in salt, while in others it may 

 exist as a mere trace. In beets it forms nearly one-third 

 of the ash; in potatoes seven, and in carrots six per 

 cent. In all roots it is generally a prominent constituent. 

 Plants will therefore respond differently to its applica- 

 tion. While an asparagus bed will bear a heavy dressing, 

 the same quantity would destroy most other cultivated 

 plants as effectually as it does the weeds among the 

 asparagus plants. It needs therefore to be used carefully, 

 five or six bushels to the acre being enough, to be applied 

 either broadcast, if fine, or in compost, if coarse. It in- 

 creases the brightness and strength of the straw, and the 

 yield of grain in the cereals. Its effects on fertile soil, 

 already supplied with a sufficiency for the use of the crop, 

 demonstrates the fact that it exerts an influence upon 

 other fertilizing agents, decomposing them and rendering 

 them available. The moisture it attracts from the at- 

 mosphere through its hygroscopic power must also be a 

 great benefit to sandy soil. 



GYPSUM LAND PLASTER. 



This, which is the sulphate of lime, can supply 

 plants with sulphuric acid and lime; both of which, 

 however, are generally found in soils in sufficient quan- 

 tity for the needs of most crops. Where clover may be 

 grown as a green manure or for feed, it is a useful fertil- 

 izer; but otherwise the market-gardener will rarely use 

 it, unless he incorporates it in his manure pile to fix the 



