THE FARM. . 1135 



elements of the unleached, having been deprived only of a part of 

 their potash and soda. They may be drilled into the soil with 

 roots and grain, sown broadcast on meadows or pastures, or mixed 

 with the muck heap. They improve all soils not already saturated 

 with the principles which they contain. 



The quantity of ashes that should be applied to the acre must 

 depend on the soil and the crops cultivated. Potatoes, turnips, and 

 all roots; clover, lucern, peas, beans, and the grasses, are great 

 exhausters of the salts, and they are consequently much benefited 

 byash.es. They are used with decided advantage for the above 

 crops -in connection with bone-dust ; and for clover, peas, and roots, 

 their effects are much enhanced when mixed with gypsum. Light 

 soils should have a smaller, and rich lands or clays a heavier, dressing. 

 From twelve to fifteen bushels per acre for the former, and thirty 

 for the latter, is not too much ; or, if they are leached, the quantity 

 may be increased one-half, as they act with less energy. Repeated 

 dressings of ashes, like those of lime and gypsum, without a corre- 

 sponding addition of vegetable or barn*yard manures, will eventu- 

 ally exhaust tillage lands. 



Salt. — As a manure, salt was extensively used by the ancients, 

 and has ever since been employed by intelligent agriculturists* On 

 some soils it yields no apparent benefit. Such as are near the 

 sea-coast, and occasionally receive deposits from the salt spray, 

 which is often carried far inland by the ocean storms ; or such as 

 contain chlorine and soda in any other forms, are not affected by 

 it. But in other situations, when used at the rate of three to six- » 

 teen bushels per acre, the crops of grains, roots, or grasses have 

 been increased from 20 to 50 per cent. It may be applied in 

 minute portions in the hill, or scattered broadcast, or mixed with 

 the muck heap. Its great affinity for water has the effect, like that 

 of gypsum, of attracting dews and [atmospheric vapor to the grow- 

 ing vegetation, by which it is supplied with moisture in a period of 

 drought, much beyond what is conveyed to such as are destitute of 

 these manures. Salt is also useful in destroying slugs, worms, and 

 larvae, which frequently do much injury to the crops. 



Old Lime Plaster from Walls of Buildings, etc. — For meadows:, 

 and for crops in general, especially on clays and loams, this is 

 worth twice its weight in hay ; as it will produce a large growth of 

 grass for years in succession, without other manure. Blrt the farmer 

 cannot too carefully remember that with this, as with all other 



