356 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist." [Nov. 1, 1894. 
to be not only nn excellent fodder in respect 
to its nutritive value, but one which produces 
a comparatively large yield. The method of 
growing sorghum solely as a fodder crop differs 
greatly from that which is usual in growing it 
as a cereal. The plant grows in a va iety of 
soils, it thrives best in loams and rich sands, and 
n fair crop is obtained even on clayey lands. 
The seed is sown thick (about four inches apart) 
in the prepared land and the plants allowed to 
come up close together. This method of gi owtli 
gives a tendency to the plants to develope leafage 
and that less succulent than usual. In six weeks 
or two. months' time the crop is r>-ady to be 
cut. In some places, especially in sandy soil-, 
the plants are pulled up roots and all and given 
to cattle. In other places where the lands are 
richer they are cut close to the ground, and the 
root stocks allowed to remain. These shoot out 
again and give a second ami smaller crop. 
Sorghum thus grown is ptes.eryecl for tuturi 
use by converting into hay. .Sorghum bay i- very 
sweet and is much relished bv all kinds of 
stock. * H, A. D. S, 
(To be continued.) 
IS SALT A FERTILIZER. 
The use ot salt for fertilizing purposes still 
prevails to some extent, and especially in such 
agricultural regions where fertilizers have only 
recently been introduced and where the principles 
of artificial manuring are as yet little understood. 
It is true that salt occasionally produces upon 
some crops and upon certain soils a moderate in- 
crease of yield, for a season or two, but the 
apparent benefit is not lasting ; on the contrary 
such applications leave the soil in an impoverished 
condition, that is, a continued application of salts 
is followed by decreasing yields. The effect of 
common salt is readily explained by the fact that 
it acts as a solvent upon potash compounds con- 
tained- in the soil, and potash being plant food 
Causes an increased yield. Salt in this manner 
acts as a stimulant and enables the plant to draw 
from resources already present in the soil at a 
much quicker rate than would be the case under 
normal conditions, and instead of increasing ferti- 
lity it promotes a rapid exhaustion of the soil 
which becomes apparent as soon as the plant food 
stored therein has been consumed. 
Anyone familiar with agricultural chemistry 
knows that salt does not contain anything that 
may serve as plant nourishment ; it is a simple 
compound of chlorine and sodium. Chlorine, if 
anything, is injurious to plants (hence the disas- 
trous effect sometimes observed where salt is used 
at the time of planting, or in too large quantities), 
while sodium, though not harmful, cannot by any 
means assist plant growth. The small quantities 
needed are always and abundantly present in every 
soil, and it is not any more advantageous to ferti- 
lize with sodium than it would be to use sand or 
silica as a fertilizer. 
Now it has been recently claimed 1>7 one evi- 
dently not familiar with the simplest agricultural 
principles that soda may take the place of potash, 
and he even went so far as to recommend common 
soda as a fertilizer. How could this be in the face 
of the fact that ashes of plants usually contain ten 
times as much potash as soda ? It is true that 
Prof. Wagner demonstrated Mint plants, when ow- 
supplied with sodium, did absorb more of this in- 
gredient than they would have done had the 
supply been normal, but there is no experiment 
on record to show that any plant can live and 
grow without potash. The ill-advised farmer, then, 
who follows such extravagant theories and tries 
to feed his crops with sodn, will waste his money 
and shorten his crop. — Rural C'a/ifur/ii/tn. 
NOTES ON TIIK CATTLE MURRAIN 
OE CEYLON. 
Referring to the congested appearance of the 
skin, Mr. Smith remarks; — " 1 Jiuve often seen 
the eruption, but have noticed at other times 
an entire absence of It." And Hie following des- 
cription of the disease by Veterinary Surgeon 
Thacker, lie considers "a very characteristic des- 
cription of the various stages of the dUease." 
Firtt stage. — The attack generally comes o:i 
gradually, evidenced by occasiouul shivering tit; 
the appetite less; animal appears du)J, wiij> 
drooping ears and a rough 6taring coat ; the 
bowels costive : rumination ceased or slightly per- 
formed ; eyes weeping : pulse quickened. 
Second xtatje. — Appetite gone; nose dry aijd 
hot, and commencing to discharge thick mucus 
fiom the eyes.; purging commenced ; lining mem- 
brane of the eyelids of a dark red colour ; puUe 
quick and small. 
Third staye. — Generally lying down from weak- 
ness : purging violent and offensive ; faeces, mixed 
with slimy mucus and blood, is passed frequently 
in small quantities and attended with straining: 
the eyes become sunk, the countenance anxious ; 
general restlessness, partial insensibility and death. 
As regards rumination, Mr. Smith writes : — 
" It has always appeared tome, from the loaded 
coodition of the rumen found on postmortem, 
(despite the continued purgation throughput the 
course of the disease) that rumination must be 
suddenly suspended at a very early stage of the 
disease." 
" In all outbreaks of rinderpest, I have 
made my diagnosis as to its fatality, dependent 
on the severity of the pharyngeal lesioas, shown 
on its outbreak — and have invariably seen all 
the worst symptoms intensified, fewest recoveries, 
and deaths more rapid. The virulence of the 
epidemic seemed to me to be attributable and 
dependent on the extent and severity the disease 
had assumed in the fauces ; postmortem appear- 
ances upheld this view. I observed this form 
of the disease very marked among buffaloes aud 
that deaths were rapid.'' 
" In a previous page it it characterized as 
'absolutely false' to state that rinderpest can 
develop itself spontaneously. If anyone can 
answer the following satisfactorily I might be 
convinced : — 
" Why do we find rinderpest becoming devel- 
oped among the cattle in the wake of an army 
in the field ? 
" Why have fairs to be broken up in consequence 
of outbreaks of this disease? 
"Why at gatherings at almost every shrine in 
India and Ceylon does cholera break out P 
'' Why is vesicular epizootic annually intro- 
duced into Scotlaud by Irish cattle brought over. 
