570 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



the overplus falls to the bottom, and the quantity remains the 

 same. This substance has been used from time immemorial for 

 promoting the growth of vegetation in European countries. Red 

 clover, lucerne, peas, asparagus, &c., are greatly benefited by its 

 use. I have used salt upon cereal grains, and almost all the 

 vegetable productions of my farm, at the rate of nine bushels per 

 acre, and it has answered my expectations, and the crops have 

 been materially improved, so much so in some instances that I 

 have thought it superior to any other manure. Thirty-five bush- 

 els of salt to the acre will destroy all weeds, kill coarse grass, and 

 in fact all vegetation for a time, but when the reaction takes 

 place, the ground will be found perfectly sweet, and capable of 

 producing superior crops of any description, provided the other 

 chemical ingredients are present; and cattle will seek the portion 

 of land so treated in preference to all others for several years 

 after. On garden lands it will prevent root crops from clubbing. 

 Salt placed in water containing flowers, induces them to look 

 bright and flourishing long after those placed in water without 

 salt have faded. Cuttings, if intended to be sent to a distance, 

 should always be dipped in salt water before they are packed. 

 Salt will be found an admirable ingredient in all garden com- 

 posts intended for carnations, celery, onions, asparagus cauli- 

 flowers, cabbages, &c. 



I close my remarks by asserting that lime and salt are indis- 

 pensable to the fertility of all soils; by analysis they will be found 

 in almost all the leading plants, and wherever a crop is growing 

 luxuriantly, you may rest assured if the soil is analyzed, lime and 

 salt will be there in proper proportion ; by the eternal evaporation 

 of the ocean salts are distributed over the whole earth, and 

 carried by rain to the roots of plants. 



Mr. Fuller, Brooklyn, stated that he had proved the advantage 

 and economy of hand labor over horse machines, in preparing 

 ground for trees. 



Mr. Pardee — It would be impossible for our market gardeners 

 to pay the rent they do, if it was not for the advantage to the soil 

 of hand-labor. It is absolutely necessary to pulverize the soil for 

 many vegetables finer than can be done by horse power. 



