520 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
the ash of some of the best straw that could be found on the land 
not salted only gave 78'94 per cent, of silica. Moreover, the straw 
of the salted land was by far the brighter of the two, and was much 
harder for the reapers to cut, a consequence of its containing more 
silica. 
The next year he conducted a series of experiments on the same 
kind of land, though not the same pieces. The wheat was drilled 
in the autumn of 1862, and 1-| cwt. of salt per acre was sown broad- 
cast, on the 12th of May, 1863. A few plots in the piece were not 
salted ; at harvest several pieces of each were carefully weighed. The 
following is the mean result of this experiment : — The land salted 
gave a produce of 2475 lbs. of wheat per acre, and that not salted gave 
a produce of 2337 lbs.; showing an excess of 138 lbs. per acre on 
the salted land. Further, the land salted gave a produce of 3389 lbs. 
of straw per acre, and the land not salted a produce of 3150 lbs. ; 
showing 239 lbs. per acre extra on the salted land. The greater 
weight of straw in proportion to the wheat, is accounted for by the 
finer quality of the straw, which containing more mineral matter than 
that grown on unsalted land, consequently weighed heavier. He agreed 
with Professor Voelcker that on stiff land a small quantity of salt was 
better than a large quantity, and that it ought to be used sparingly in 
each application ; he would prefer manuring the root-crop with salt 
to its direct application to cereals. 
Mr. Lawes, in replying to the various criticisms on his remarks, 
said, it might be supposed that his land was not favourable for an 
application of salt ; but it should be observed that his experiments 
with mangold wurzel were carried on, not upon experimental land, but 
as part of his ordinary farm practice ; the soil being a heavy loam 
resting on yellow clay. Mr. Keary's experiments were also part of 
what is termed farming practice ; and, though he said that salt was a 
capital manure, the results which he gave tended to show the contrary. 
He appeared, indeed, not to have analyzed the results of his own 
experiments. He (Mi-. Lawes) agreed with Dr. Voelcker that when 
salt was applied to grass-lands the herbage looked better and the cattle 
seemed more fond of it ; but he doubted, nevertheless, whether the 
grass contained the best meat-producing qualities, nor, indeed, did he 
think that salt ultimately increased the amount of produce. He also 
concurred in the Dr.'s opinion that salt checked the growth of plants ; 
but whether that was an advantage to the farmer was another question. 
Did they wish their crops to be stopped at particular stages of growth ? 
They all knew that in some years crops were too ripe in autumn, and 
at others not ripe enough. That was a matter which depended on the 
seasons. One year there was a hot summer, ripening the crops too 
early, the next year perhaps the case was reversed ; and a manure like 
salt would perhaps be beneficial at one period and not at another. As 
regarded cattle, they knew that cows fed much on mangold wurzel 
were apt to scour. What they ate operated on them like a dose of 
salts. As agriculuu'ists, they did not want to accumulate salt in 
mangold wurzel ; what they needed was good feeding qualities, and 
the question of the value of salt and other manures depended on their 
