Sept, i, 1897.] THE TROPICAL 
C''r.'’c'sni;’iil :r, Cs7. 
To ike Editor. 
SALT FOR AGRICULTURAL AND 
PLANTING PURPOSES. 
Franklands, Veyangoda, 13th March, 1895. 
The Hod. the Colonial Secretary, 
Sir, — 1. 1 beg that yon will place before His 
Excellency the Governor this iny application for 
five tons, of .salt, to be used in certain agricul- 
tural experiments on this estate. 
2. The nianurial value of .salt in agricul- 
ture is well-known ; but so far as 1 am aware, 
the quantities in which it may safely be applied 
to land, the jiarticular crops to which it is most 
beneficial, and the duration of the benefits which 
may follow on ac application, have never been 
a.scertained, at any rate locally. 
3. A few" years ago there tvas considerable 
discussion in the local newspapers, on the special 
value of salt a.s a manure for coconut estates 
situated at a distance from the sea-borde where 
coconuts are known to flourish best, presumably 
owing to the presence of salt in large quantities 
in the soil, and to their being under the influence 
of salt-laden winds. My recollection is that an 
application was made by the Agricultural As- 
sociation, whicli has ceased to exist, for the issue 
of salt at cost price ; but tlie then Government 
felt itself unable to accede to the request because 
of the diliiculty of denaturing salt, so that it 
might be made absolutely unfit for human food, 
4. Since tlien the island, or to be more accu- 
rate tire districts in whicli coconuts are most 
extensively cultivated, have jiassed through two 
successive years of drought, which liave told dis- 
aslrou.^ly on coconut estates and coconut crops ; 
and it has occurred to me tliat expeiiments might 
establish, that the use of salt as a manure might 
mininflze the evil effects of droughts, by render- 
ing the soil more retentive of moisture — the 
hygroscopic propertie.s of salt being well-known. 
It is the desire to carry out these experiments, 
not wholly from disinterested motives, which 
impels me to make the pre.sent application ; but 
I do not ask for a free issue of the salt, though 
if it w'ere offered I should not decline it, as I 
shall have to incur some expense in connection 
with the experiments. I am prepared to pay the 
cost price of the salt, or the price at w’hich it is 
sold for exportation. 
5. The application that salt should be issued 
for a local experiment, which may be fraught 
with immense benefits to a national industry, 
at the same price at w’hich it is issued to stran- 
gers to be carried aw'ay from the island, cannot 
be justly regarded as unreasonable ; but it may 
be as well to anticipate two possible objections. 
(a) . If it be asked what guarantee is there 
that the salt thus issued or a portion of it, may 
not be used for food, to the detriment of the 
revenue, my only reply can be a personal under- 
taking that the salt shall be kept under lock 
and key, and applied under my personal super- 
vision, mixed with cattle manure, or some com- 
post, and so dug in, as to be practically inacces- 
sible for food. 
(b) . To the objection that assuming tlie ex- 
periments to be successful it woubi be impossi- 
ble so to denature .salt, issued lor agricultmal 
purposes as to render it unfit for food, I answer 
that it may bo so. 1 am not awaro that cx- 
AGRICULTURIST. 197 
periments have established that salt can, by 
mixture w'iih other ingredients, chemical or ofi'en- 
.sive, be rendered ab.solutely unfit for food ; but 
it would be wiser to deal with juobabiliiies than 
mere possibilities in the piaciical issues of lite. 
Every planter knows the diflicuiiy there is in 
getting coolies to handle, or evtu to n.amoty, 
manure.s offensive to the smell and sus];ecttd to 
be mixed with excrenientious matter. Is it then 
in the least degree probable that even the most 
needy or foul-feeding cooly will wash small 
crystals of salt clean, in order to use it for food ? 
Assuming that a certain proportion of labourers 
may do so, to what extent will tlie revenue be 
damnified by their erratic and exceptional jiro- 
ceedings ? Probably not to the extent of HIO 
a year. 
0. It seems to me therefore, quite practicable 
to iiSSue salt of a quality unfit for human foor , or 
so treated as to render its use for food prac- 
tically impossible, and under guarantee, s from 
the purchasers which shall jirotect the revenue; 
but assuming that tlie.se safeguards may fail, it 
would be absurd to assume that it will fail in 
every cafse, and that everj" purchaser of salt for 
agricultural |iurpo,ses will risk criminal conse- 
quences by turning retailer of salt. The loss 
to the revenue, if any, is lilcely to be trifling, 
and caused chi' fly by i'ecu!.‘''tirin. But as against 
that iiiust be ] . (. ■. .he immense benefit it 
•would be to the wimie country, if its produc- 
tiveness can be increased e\ en by one- twentieth, 
by the use of salt as a manure, and if its herds 
can be protected against sickness by the free 
exhibition of salt. 
7 If it once be establUhed that salt can be 
applied with appreciable benefit to the land, the 
Government may find it po.ssible to sell salt, 
without any restriction as to its use.s, at a re- 
duction in price, w'hich, througii the increased 
consumption, will ensuie the same direct revenue, 
while indirectly the revenue will be greatly 
benefited by the greater productiveness of the 
soil, by the improved health of the people a.s a 
result both of more abundant food and clieaper salt, 
and by the greater immunity of cattle from 
.sickness. 
8. I have .said thus much to show that my 
exjieriinents if they establish that salt rvould be 
decidedly helpful to coconut cultivation, will be 
very beneficial to the country at large and will 
not imperil the revenue. I beg that His Excel- 
lency may be pleased to give my application favour- 
able consideration. If necessary, tlie experiments 
may be carried on under the direction, or on the 
advice, of the Superintendent of the School of 
Agriculture, so that results might be carefully 
noted. — I have the honour to be, sir, your obedi- 
ent servant, FRANCIS BEVEN. 
Colonial Secretary’s Otlice, 
Colombo, 5th April 1895. 
Feanci.s Beven, E.sq. 
Sir, — I am directed to acknowledge the receipt 
of your letter of the I2th ultimo, applying for 
5 tons of salt, to be used in e.xperinients to 
test its value as manure, and to inlorm you that 
the imxtter wa.s duly laid before the Governor. 
2. In reply. His Excellency desire.s me to say 
that personally he would have no hesiiation in 
trusting vou to carry out your experimeiiL.- ; but 
that, if r-iilt weie .so is.sueil m. a large scaie to 
as many persons as desiio to ii;s a, il.e jiixiitge 
would be abused t, the uelrimei.L cl the re. ci uc. 
The Government would, therefore, in granting 
your rc(]^uc.itj ]jo cx[io;jcd to tv chtu',",c of lav our- 
