380 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE 



reoei 



large 



d 



not receive su ■—*&■" — i — r . ... 



mirht therefor* have more salt given to them in addition 

 to their food. Horses might take with advantage from 

 an ounce and a-half to two ounces of salt daily : but an 

 exeats of St, no doubt, would render animals weak, debi- 

 litated, and unfit for exertion. Similar facts were apphc- 



accumulated 



Arthur Youn 



judicious use of salt than without it. ai-hhii- x uuu 5 , 

 in bis examination before a committee of the House ot 

 Commons, in 1810, had stated that he found saltprevent 

 the rot in sheep ; and Sir John Sinclair and many others 

 had given evidence to the same effect. Prof. Simonds 

 then alluded to the solubility of common salt, and its 

 passage into the stomach and intestinal canal ; its ab- 

 sorption into the system by the veins, its action on the 

 liver, and the supply of soda it yielded to the bile : thus 

 leading to a greater amount of nutriment being derived 

 from the food. Sheep living on pastures giving them 

 the rot were found to recover when they had access to 

 Bait ; and he thought the probable cause of sheep not 

 rotting on salt marshes, and recovering when put on 

 them, was the healthy stimulus thus communicated by 

 the salt to the liver of the animals, by which that organ 

 was guarded from disease, and its functions invigorated. 

 Salt, too, was well known as a vermifuge, destroying 

 many kinds of worms in the intestines of animals, and 

 conferring a healthy tone of action which prevented their 

 re-occurrence. He then alluded to the prophylactic, or 

 preservative influence of saline impregnation against 

 marsh exhalations, and its power of destroying the poison 

 of those miasmata, aa shown by Dr. Stevens in his work 

 on the blood, where reference is made to the fact, that 

 at Salina, in Genessee county, near Oneida Lake, in the 

 Btate of New York, all the individuals in and about some 

 talt works, situate in the midst of a marshy district, 

 escaped from the attacts of marsh fever, while the popu- 

 lation around them suffered. — Colonel Challoner's atten- 



tion was called to the value < 



ago, by the late Earl Spencer ; and since that time he 



had invariably used it for his cattle, which in conse- 



auence had attained to abetter condition of flesh than 

 ley had done when no salt was given to them. His 

 Devons were the best cattle on his farm, and they con- 

 sumed the largest quantity of that substance.— Mr. 

 Fisher Hobbs had little more to state on that occasion 

 than he had stated when the subject was discussed by the 

 Council a few months previously. He agreed with 

 Colonel Challoner, that those of his animals °which had 

 the most salt did best, and . even pined after it when 

 it was withheld from them. He did not consider that it 



butit was found that the weeds, instead of being destroyed 

 by this application, were more numerous than ever. — 

 Mr. Barrow had found salt improve the strength and 

 quality of his Wheat straw, his neighbour's crops having 

 been laid while his stood well. He had entirely destroyed 

 fine rows of box in his garden by applying salt on his 

 gravel-walks for the purpose of killing the weeds.— Mr. 

 Parkins had not had a weed on his gravel-walks for five 

 years, by forming them' on a bed or substratum of chalk 

 mixed with coal-gas tar sifted over gravel, and allowed 

 to set ; lime being used when a more compact substratum 

 (capable of bearing the pressure of a loaded cart wheel 

 without yielding) was required. — Mr. Mechi had used 

 150 tons of salt on 170 acres of land during five years' 

 occupation, He found it essentially necessary for cattle 

 and horses, when fed on Wheat straw cut into chaff with 

 Bean-meal. If salt were not given, their coats appeared 

 rough and unhealthy ; but with salt they were sleek and 

 healthy. His sheep and pigs also had salt. Horses and 

 cattle received two ounces daily, yearling calves one 

 ounce. Without being able to give the scientific reason, 

 salt gave strength and brightness to the Wheat straw, 

 and prevented its lodging. He applied it at the rate of 

 3 cwt. per acre, ! mixed with the same weight of guano. He 

 also used a large quantity under the animals, to fix the 

 ammoniain their manure, which it did far more effectually 

 than gypsum. He had known of great advantage from 

 mixing it in the dunghill. It was very beneficial to 

 Mangold Wurzel. It certainly, with all deference to Mr. 

 Way, appeared to render the land more wet and adhesive. 

 He thought it would not be so beneficial on undrained 

 heavy lands. Early on a hot summer's morning he had 

 observed the grains of salt formed a wet spot, as though 

 they had attracted moisture from the dews. — Prof. Way 

 explained that common salt might be a better fixer of 

 ammonia than gypsum, on account of its greater solu- 

 bility. Salt, from any deliquescence it occasioned, might 

 affect land in regard to colour and resistance to the 

 action of frost ; but moisture was not the simple cause 

 of the good effects of salt. — Mr. Dyer instanced the 

 deliquescent effect of salt in bacon-salting rooms, where 

 the pavement was constantly damp. He had even 

 known milk spilt on deal boards years ago, which now, 

 in damp weather, always attracted moisture where the 

 milk had been originally absorbed. — Mr. Fisher Hobbs 

 referred to the power of the fishery salt to fix ammonia, 

 and used it frequently with guano with a view to that 

 object. — Baron Mertens expressed to the Council his 



chalk, should be spread on the~lu r facT~h^f^ 

 puttato the drains ; by that means, ^5^ 



to 500/ would be effected, as there would hv m4 

 yards of good clay put on the land at an Ll Ut 



*ou!i 



and brightened the straw, and caused it to ripen from 

 two to five days earlier than it would otherwise have 

 done. In the case of root-crops it was more beneficial 

 to Mangold Wurzel than to Turnips ; and in fact, that 

 great caution was required in its application to the Tur- 

 nip plant, which was easily injured by injudicious use 

 on account of its great effect on the vitality of that plant' 

 It increased the size of the Mangold bulbs, and caused 

 the plant to retain its fertilizing character during drv 



mmom. He applied the pUcW-fishtsry salt broadcast 



on each side of the plants in July, either alone (in parti- 

 cular seasons) or mixed with ashes or guano (which im- 

 proved it) and then scarifying it in. The frost had less 

 effect on the salted than on the unsalted portions of his 

 land ; and by its means light soil becomes more retentive 



thanks for the kind manner in which they had acceded 



to his request, on the part of the Belgian Government, 



grain ' - ------ - . - > 



moisture 



raeter, 



variable 



rise to practical discussion. He would only further 

 trespass on their time by enquiring whether any experi- 

 ments had been made to ascertain the increase in the 

 weight of milch cows, and of the milk they yielded, in 

 consequence of the use of salt as part of their food ? — 

 The Rev. A. Huxtable, having a dairy of 40 milch cows, 

 had found it difficult to make experiments on that 

 express point ; but Boussingault had last year given an 

 account of experiments similar in their object to those 

 which were now the subject of Baron Merten's enquiry. 

 — On the motion of Colonel] Challoner, seconded by 

 Lord Bridport, the thanks of the Council were given to 

 Professor Way and Professor Simonds, for the favour 

 of the statements they had on that occasion made to the 

 members, on a subject interesting and important in 

 itself, but dependent on various circumstances of Con- 



or three shillings per acre, which if ciX*** of *• 

 from 30, to 40, p'er acre/bestdee tK^^^ 

 be done to the land, by carting the clay^e i 

 Hewetson, of Down, near FarnboroiiU V L ^* 

 for the inspection of the Council 802^^^ 

 of draining tiles made « for the P S* S ^P** 

 small and main drain where an addftioLTfT mgth| 

 obtained equal to the depth of the larS 1 T ** 

 of which the bottom of the smaller tile vel / ** 

 securely m its place : the opening in the top f & |S 

 tile and the rim at the bottom of the small m?f G 8 * 

 both circular and thus allowing the drff t^ 

 an angle." An interesting discussion then ensu 2 1 

 the arrangement of drains in land, their stopJJk 

 sandy soil, the shape and size of tiles and mof 5 

 adjusting them, the filling-in of drains by Clavw. 

 Dram-consolidator, and other details of practical^ 

 rience, in which the Chairman, Mr. Arkwright C% 

 Challoner, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Wilbraham, Uv CwT 

 and Mr. Smith, of Exmoor, took part. ^ 



Australian Guano. —Mr. Manning, of 251 Hiri 

 Holborn, transmitted to the Council a bag ofVano re- 

 ceived from Egg Island, one of a group of islands lyi™ 

 off and about Shark's Bay, the most western point 3 

 New Holland, in south latitude 25°, and east longitude 

 113°. Mr. Manning stated that there were several ottor 

 adjacent islands covered more or less with guano of * 

 quality supposed to be in some instances superior to 

 that on Egg Island. Rain, he said, scarcely ever fell oq 

 those islands, and in some places the guano was found 

 many feet deep. Mr. Manning concluded his statement 

 by a detail of the steps that had been taken to bring 

 about this first importation of Australian guano ; and ac- 

 companied it by a hope that the Council would consider 

 the subject of sufficient importance to request Professcr 

 Way, the consulting chemist of the Society, to make an 

 official analysis and report on the value of the guano 

 in question. The Council acceded to this request, and 

 directed the sample to be passed over to Prof 

 Way accordingly. 



Miscell. Communications. — Mr. Murcott sent speci- 

 mens of an insect believed by him to be the cause of the 

 failure in the Clover plant, which the Council referred 

 for microscopical examination to Prof. Simonds, and in 

 reference to its agricultural bearings to Mr. Law«, 

 Colonel Le Couteur presented a sample of cured Jersey 

 butter, about a year old, which was found to retain its 

 fine qualities and fresh taste in a remarkable degree. 

 A letter was received from M. Maurencq, the President 

 of the French Agricultural Commission, and referred to 

 the Monthly Council. Mr. Arkwright favoured the 

 Council by explaining to them the advantages of a 

 cottage stove he had found of great simplicity, economy, 

 and capable of affording great comfort and convenience 

 to labourers. — Mr. Hudson, of Castleacre, stated the 

 injury done to seed-corn by mixing guano with it before 

 sowing. — A French essay on butter-making was received, 

 and referred for consideration to a future meeting. 



of May, with a Lecture on the Preparation, Composition, 

 and Agricultural Employment of Superphosphate of Lime, 



r l *»»,, „„ tti «d ^ ■ttSSr'WJ ta2riS*its*s£±: 7-*ss^=,ecic s^s ^3-^ &%£:«£ fi*."-St-i 



Professor 



of commerce, and it contained" oU Zid'^Z'TZT 1 £*% J™ Barker expressed a hope that the learned 



derived from the fish. Tlie wirewom d STn TT ?fTV T*? kmdly C ° n f nt t0 deliver these short 



conclusion, he considered salt to ^enbenefidal 1 th ^"^IT ^ T? ^ aeatl y to the ambers 



8oil, either alone or in a state of mixtuTe w?tb fotl etsub * '* Week, ^ S,ttin S s °- fthe Coun <* 5 request to which 



least improved in their w 



stances.— The 

 salt. Those g 



stance were the least improved in their weight • in fa7t 

 one ewe, very fond of salt, had become a mere 'skeleton 



^T^ 8 ?? l XCe88 ' He f0Und that ** aSat were 

 much jpurged by the use of sal t His milch cows, howler 



^ Zi m0refleSh K than / at ' Were much benefited by 



*r growth ; 



Professors Way and Simonds expressed their willing 



assent. & 



:_,i AA i . ,. . — ©~~ — vu ^*w » manure ior tn 



rots, for the 



. insects were 



against depredate 



^i^ZZgzssr 



crops 



drilled 



r* vu »w xor inese 

 urine. He mixed a 



b A Weekly Council was held at the Society's House, 

 m |Hanover-square, on Wednesday, the 21st of May • 

 present the Hon. Robert Henry Clive, M.P., Trustee, 



\ n ,i I ie C ; h r air > Lord Brid P ort > Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. 

 M*\, Mr. Arkwricrht (Hampton), Mr. Arkwright 



Council, on that occasion, ML Maurencq, Baron de 

 Montreuil, and the other members of the Frencu agn- 

 cultural commission. 



A Monthly Council was held at the Society's House. 

 in Hanover-square, on Wednesday, the 4th ol June • 

 present, the Earl of Ducie, V.P., in the char, w 

 John V.B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P, Sir Mortg 

 Cholraeley, Bart., M.P., Mr. Alcock, M.P^ *£. i» 

 Raymond Barker, Mr. John Raymond ^*»; 

 Barnett, Mr. Beasley, Mr. BlansharJ. Mr. Bramsi_«, 



M.P., Mr. Garrett Mr- 



Draining. 



saturated ^^.n^T-- -nnxeda shire, fc^^SS^S^SSSj dflC 



grav 



Fish 



ks appearance. il£ tZZeX^l^ 

 usually adopted with succels-- d hl,nself 



common amongst flockmagte'ri 



travelling Ahrnnrl hoA «„i.:-. i 



in tw - n ? anne ^ ™ **«* he was improving his estate 

 in that neighbourhood, consisting chiefly of Long clav 



draining, earned on by degrees, and according M 

 circumstances, over such portLs of the land as fve^e 

 found to require it. He also submitted to their ,Wc! 

 tion the drain.ng-book of this property, in whTch a San 

 of each field was given and lines indicting he gradual 



b P enTfr m f1 UCh i thC draina § e had from time to time 

 been effected, e.ther over the whole extent of any mr 



55fe ? e, l°r P ar l a »y - circumstances mi'hf haTe 



Mr. Sillifant, Prof. Simonas, mr. »-"-" ' 

 Prof. Way, Mr. Jonas Webb, and Mr. W goa 

 The Hon. Captain Rushout, M.P. (2d LA Gm«J* 



The lion. Captain Kusiioiu, iu.x . v «" ~~\ . overa or 



Burford, in the county of Salop, was elected a go 



of the Society. 



The following new members were elected : 



Kennedy, Primrose William, Drumellan. Dy u 



Bolitho, William, jun., Penzance, t- " 1 "*" 



Stowev, Augustus, Kenbury House, Exeter 



Guthrie, John, Guthrie Castle Forfarsbire Col dfieW 



Webster, P. C Gillies, Ashfurlong House, M 



The Ph " t0 , be ™q«"d— Colonel Chal oner agreed ^thMr AS. • k? 



fhe Chairman, when that principles mieht be W,A TZ^^'P*?"*** 



i* the middhTof hotel i rub S^!^ ght be ^ *™ f « Gaining, but' no 

 - * , a large * ' 



poet-horses had free access. 



yards, where relays took place a larl Tl l ,° f P 1 

 which the post-hoie. hadfree' Ss Ho ° f ^ 

 that horse* in f.,U , v „h xJ£Z* Cees ?' 1Ie consul© 



a general case. 



;ard to its effect 



circumstances 



an advantage, more 



or 



^d occurred in Cheshire, where 

 Westminster had applied salt liberally 

 wng, for the purpose of destroying 



a substance, 

 urious result 

 Marquis of 



on a road four miles 



2SSI i« . iTKTS 



weeds 



on it 



u l .i v , --Mr. Hudson, of Castleacre hid 

 about three months previously visited SirT u V 

 RtH- of Kcxt^*: v . !/ viaiiea oir Jolin Boileau, 



« to .suprt to Sir John Boilea" that Te 

 bottom draws of clay, which were fonnd to be fuU of 



Webster, P. C. Gillies, Asnrunm.g "—^ d .^e 

 Tredwell, S., Highfield House Leek S .attorn 

 Loder, Bobert, The Beeches 8 "f^M ^Stafford- 

 "- "". Andrew, Elford Park, LitWj £ Yorksll ire 



.eph, Matchless House, Kei.^ey, 



waiiam Hallam, Salt HiU, ■ * lo "»"l ll * ni b«rii 



May, Geo. Andrew, ElfordPark, 

 Tuley, Jo 



Botham, WiUiam Hallam, »»" "*"»,„V"Nortliuaih« rl "« 

 Weatherley, James. Swinhoe, Alnwick, »* Lo ndflB 

 Blashheld, J. M., New London-street, war gussex 

 Gladman, William, Mount Pleasant, B ol «?' bire , 

 Postlethwaite, Woodburn, Vlnnvym. ^"^ DurbsO 

 Parrington, Joseph, CrossbecU House,^^^^.^ 



Darnbrough, Thomas B., Sj-nth ' P«nogton, ^ 



Jackson, Ut. (Princ. Med. Off. »-\; c i' „ dt | f Wesun""^ 

 Ellison, William, jun., Low S.zergh, ^^.tford, jW» 

 Miles, Frederick/Stake Hammond^ F e nn) G1( , oc es«« 



Westbury 



jtnSertm 



