Agronome on Salt and other Matters. 153 



asunder, so that, without the hoe, they would be little better 

 than so many rows of cress or mustard. " But," says the 

 man of science, " salt enters into the constitution of plants, 

 and therefore must be a manure." I grant that it does enter 

 into the constitution of certain plants, and I have witnessed 

 some extraordinary good effects from its application ; and I 

 could fill several sheets on that side of the question, but am 

 engaged at present on the opposite side. It hardens the straw, 

 that would otherwise be flaggy ; it makes the grain plump, 

 that would otherwise be shrivelled ; in short, its uses are ex- 

 traordinary, if applied with judgment : but to call it a manure 

 is a kind of false philosophy which I should like to extirpate 

 from the rising generation, as it would only lead to futile ex- 

 periments, foolish arguments, and false conclusions. I make 

 use of great quantities of salt every year, and did so before 

 the duty was taken offj both rock salt and salt and ashes. 

 I was then obliged to swear what I was going to do with 

 it, and what I had done with it, and also give an account 

 of the experiments I had tried with it, some of which have 

 helped to make up the pamphlets I have read ; but now I have 

 no more trouble than if carting from a dunghill. I was at a 

 salt-works last Tuesday, and? I suppose, the greatest salt-works 

 in Europe; I bought a' three-horse cart-full for ten shillings; 

 they loaded it into the bargain, only one of the men begged 

 sixpence to drink, as he said he had made me a good load, 

 and trod it well, so as not to shake off. I thought he spoke 

 true, and gave him the sixpence. I weighed it and measured 

 it after getting it home; it was 37£ cwt., and measured 62 

 imperial bushels ! Now, this was not salt and ashes, but 

 fair, good salt, only not quite fit for a silver salt-cellar ; so, if 

 any one wants salt manure, as they call it, I think I can tell 

 them where the cheapest shop is. I asked a great many ques- 

 tions of the agent, and also of the neighbouring farmers, the 

 substance of which would occupy several letters ; but all that I 

 could write, or indeed all that others have written or could write, 

 may be comprehended in the following parable : — A certain 

 man had two sons ; they were twins, very much alike in every 

 thing, and in nothing more than in their delicate complexion, 

 and weakly and sickly appearance : they were troubled with 

 worms, a weak digestion, &c. &c. One of them was put under 

 a course of physic, which nearly killed him ; but he however 

 got well, and grew quite fat and jolly : the other lingered on 

 for some time, and died at last, although he had always as 

 much roast beef and plumpudding as he could set face to ! 

 The old man made the following remark, which passed cur- 



