736 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
[April i, 1891 
SALT IN AGBIOULTURB : No. II. 
Veyangoda, March 18th. 
Dear Sir, — My excuse for prolixity in my previous 
communication, is that, in order to show that salt is 
indispensable in coconut cultivation, I thought it neces- 
sary to point out the natural habitat of the tree, the 
conditions under which it flourishes, and its habits. 
In the generality of instances, trees grown inland 
have none of the natural conditions under which this 
palm grows. The resu ts of this are self-evident to 
those engaged in ns cultivation. How to overcome 
these should be their aim. To make a stiff soil free, 
is not as easy a job as those who glibly recommend 
its being broken up to the depth of 18 inches and 
limed imagine. The initial cost will be between K25 
and R30 per acre. I should be happy to form the 
acquaintance of the man who will incut this over 
an appreciable acreage. Besides, to counteract the 
effects of sun and ram, and of the action of the feet 
of cattle, the work will have to be continuous. It 1 
think far better to recommend something practicable 
than what, though highly desirable, will not be under- 
taken. Next, as to a plentiful supply of water. Un- 
happily, every coconut estate proprietor has not the 
energy, pluck, enterprise, or command of capital of an 
Akbar, even though many have the Mahaoya or other 
rivers skirting their estates. So that that, too, must be 
dismissed like the altering the mechanical condition 
of the soil, as being outside the pale of “ practical 
politics.” The salting of the soil is then the only 
operation left us, in the way of conforming with the 
natural conditions under which the coconut palm 
grows, and I say it is the most important. In low- 
lying flats inland, we meet with free sandy soil, having 
water within easy reach of the roots of coconut trees, 
and yet the trees growing on them have not the ability 
to carry their bunches unaided. We may well enquire 
how this is, seeing that in such situations two of the 
natural conditions under which the palm grows are 
present. I think the inevitable conclusion is an in- 
BufiSciency of salt for its requirements. 
Under the circumstances I have detailed at such great 
length, I call upon the gentlemen of the Press to make 
a united application to Government to issue salt for 
agricultural purposes at wholesale prices. Situated as I 
am away irom Administration Reports, I cannot say 
precisely what wholesale prices ace, but I believe they 
are somewhere about 40 cents per owt. The cost of 
manufacture I believe is well witbin 25 cents per 
cwt. ; so that the margin of profit is not to be despised, 
if Government can be induced to follow a liberal and 
progressive policy and encourage the use of salt 
extensively in agriculture, instead of as now standing 
stolidly in the way. Of course, safeguards against 
the revenue suffering would have to be adopted ; but 
the devising of these will surely not be beyond the 
ingenuity of the legal advisers of the Government. 
It can be issued only to men of standing, or to those 
whose respectability can be vouched for by two men 
of standing. A declaration on honour will have to be 
given that the salt will be used exclusively for agri- 
cultural purposes, and an undertaking to pay a penalty 
representing the difference between the price it was 
issued at and retail price for the full quantity issued, 
if it be proved that, owing to the want of reason- 
able precautions, any part of it was used for culinary 
purposes. These are safeguards enough, but another 
and an indispensable one must be that, before issue, 
the salt be mixed with some offensive stuff Ilka night- 
soil at the Government Store and under the super- 
vision of its own Storekeeper, the latter to be 
supplied by the purchaser in proportions to be fixed 
upon by the Government. Every practical man 
who is intimately acquainted with the natives 
and their deep-rooted prejudices will agree that 
till', last precaution will remove all cbauous ol the salt 
being used fur human ooosumptiuu. Let not the 
Govurnmeut harp uu the woil-worn string that it is 
possible to purify and render tit for consumption salt 
so treated. Let the Government, composed as it is of 
praotioal men, deal with probabilities and not possi- 
bilities. 
To eay that »u iooreased ooDaumption oi ailt will 
mean increased revenue, is to state an rxiom. The 
increase will not be sudden, but it will be slow, till 
the benefits of salt in agriculture have been demon- 
strated. Then, tbere is the residual salt of the pane, 
which a glance at the Administration Re.iorts of the 
Government Agent of the Northern Provime and of the 
Assistant Government Agent of Puttalam will show is 
destroyed at a high cost. This cannot be characterized 
as other than a sinful waste of a useful acoioleof con- 
sumpuou aud of money. It bas been established that 
this residual salt can, wnen mixed with bul:cy manures, 
be used as a manure. Why not save the money ex- 
pended in its destruction and turn this substance into 
an item of revenue f 
It will be necessary for me now to detai i the value 
of salt in agriculture geuorally. In doing this, I will be 
forced to repeat all the information I colbited at much 
trouble, and what has become available sinc j. 
Salt has a two-fold action on the soil, me ;hanical aud 
ohemioal. Besides this it is hygrosorptiv -, and has • 
value all its own. By its property of absorbing the 
moisture of the atmosphere, it alters the texture of the 
soil, aud always keeps it moist and free in Iry weather. 
Ohemioally, it has the property of rendering soluble the 
Phosphates, Nitrates, Silicates and Potat h in the soil. 
A sour soil is by its application rendered sweet, and 
the coarse herbage growing in it is rendered fit for 
cattle. Vegetable tissues are by its app ication ren- 
dered tough and stiff, possibly by the Jarge quantity 
of silica it enables trees to taae up as I. oil. Though 
experiments have proved that plants can be grown in 
soils devoid of silioa, yet silica is known to help 
plants to assimilate other plant food. Therein possibly 
lies the secret of the vigour it imparts to vegetation, 
and the reason it acts as a stimulant. Tne Tate Mr. 
Davidson, a coconut planter at Jaffna, who shows by 
his writings a considerable acquaintancj with agri- 
cultural chemistry, wrote: — “Were 1 to say saltaots as a 
stimulant, 1 might state what I could not explain ; but 
I could point to its operation in the animal economy as 
proof of its possessing properties adapting it peculiarly 
to a tree la which the ever-circulating sap is perpetually 
varying in constitution and density. AVe can 
then understand why the oooonnt tree thrives best 
when it feels the influence of the salt spray. By its 
ability to supply, or rather to absorb, mointure in dry 
weather, it helps greatly in proper nourishment and 
formation of fruit. It can be applied profitably in soils 
rich in organic matter. It operates on the soil with 
an iufiuenoe not produced by any other stimulant, 
mineral or vegetable.” 
1 think I have said enough to demorslrate its great 
value generally in agriculture, and of its mdispensa- 
bility in coconut cultivation inland. The Superintendent 
of the School of Agrionlture aud at least one of bis 
Assistants have borne willing testimony to its value in 
agriculture, and have recommended its issue at reduced 
rates. It is now left only for the gentlemen of the 
fourth estate to formulate a united appeal to the 
Government, and for those interested in agriculture to 
back up that appeal, se as to induce the Government to 
abandon its dog-in-the-manger policy with regard to 
this question. By aiding agricuiture in tbj way I have 
indicated, it will increase the revenue directly by the 
increased sale of salt, aud indirectly by increasing the 
earnings of the salt manufacturers and of landed pro- 
prietors, thus increasing the circulation of capital.— 
Yours truly B. 
HIGH PRIOES FOR CEYLON COCOA. 
Colombo, Mnrob 23rd. 
Deab Sib, — A great deal has been said about a 
parcel of cocoa belonging to Mr. Payne having sold 
at R65 and another parcel of Mr, Barber’s at R68, 
but I think if anybody has to be congratulated it is 
the proprietor of Wibaragame, whose cocoa I sold 
last week at R73 per owt,, — the highest price I 
believe, ever paid in Ceylon for cocoa. I have sold 
several parcels since at R70, 71, and 73, and have 
not heard of any sales to come up to that. — Yours 
taithtuUy, 
