92 THE SOIL OF THE FARM. 



Common Salt is an ingredient of crops, but most soils 

 supply it in abundance for tlie wants of tlie plant. Its 

 application is only likely to be useful as a source of plant 

 food in growing such crops as mangels, onions, cabbages, 

 etc., which contain a considerable percentage of chloride 

 of sodium in their ash. It is necessary only on soils 

 naturally deficient in salt, and situated so far inland as to 

 be beyond the influences of the salt-laden sea-breezes. 



On grass lands salt is best used as a compost with 

 vegetable matter; and in that form it may be given at 

 the rate of from three hundred to five hundred jiounds 

 per acre. On arable land it is also best given as a com- 

 post. If used alone, however, the application should not 

 exceed three hundred to five hundred j)ounds per acre, 

 and it should be well harrowed in. 



The destructive action of salt in excess on vegetation 

 is turned to account sometimes in destroying weeds on 

 garden paths, etc. It can also be taken advantage of at 

 times as a corrective to the over-stimulating effects of 

 nitrate of soda and other manures on wheat crops. When 

 these are running too much to straw an application of 

 salt may check this tendency and prevent lodging. 



Soot contains a small percentage of nitrogen. Used 

 alone it makes an excellent top-dressing for spring wheat 

 and grass; being quick in its action without being too 

 stimulating. It has also the property of destroying slugs 

 on winter wheat; and it keeps off other pests. 



Vc^ctablc-ashcs. — Kelp, the burnt ash of sea-weed, 

 contains a large quantity of potash. It takes twenty- 

 four tons of sea-weed to produce one ton of kelp. 



Wood-ashes are rich in potash, and constitute a valu- 

 able manure for potatoes and turnips. They are used to 

 the best advantage when mixed with superphosphate 

 and other manures. 



