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SALT AS MANURE. 273 
expectations of those who tried it, yet the agricultural world are in¬ 
debted to Mr. Johnson for his assiduity, and for the results which 
may follow his various experiments and observations. After numer¬ 
ous observations and experiments on sowing common salt, all of 
which were attended with but little success, Mr. Kemp adopted the 
conclusion, that if common salt contained any principle promotive 
of vegetation, in a considerable degree, it must undergo some pro¬ 
cess whereby that principle could be set at liberty, and rendered 
available as the food of plants. 
Mr. Kemp has now discovered an easy and inexpensive mode of 
decomposition, which perfectly answers the end, and renders the salt, 
after this preparation, exceedingly valuable as an agriculture ma¬ 
nure, being remarkably fertilizing to the land. His mode of de¬ 
composition is not detailed in the pamphlet; for he considers that so 
important a discovery certainly ought to bring some remuneration to 
the discoverer, beyond the mere approbation of his country. We 
have made the following extract from the pamphlet, to shew how 
sanguine are Mr. Kemp’s expectations that it will fully answer the 
purpose for which he proposes it to be used. 
“A very striking peculiarity in prepared salt is its great attraction 
for the moisture of the atmosphere. Although I have in a former 
part of this address disputed the accuracy of Mr. Johnson’s remarks 
respecting the extent of the benefit conferred on soils by the absorb¬ 
ent property of manures, I am fully prepared to admit that very great 
advantage is derived from it. It will be recollected, that this gentle¬ 
man asserts that the exclusive use of manures is to attract moisture 
from the air; whereas.I am disposed to consider this property only 
so far valuable, as that it enables them to part with their nutritive 
matter, which matter is received into the plant and becomes a part 
of its organized structure. 
“As the products of nature seem destined to perpetual change and 
alteration ; and the fibrous roots of plants appear intended by provi¬ 
dence to produce the first stage in the transmutation of inert matter 
into life, thus by decomposition and absorption earth becomes veget¬ 
able; vegetable matter is no sooner decomposed, in the stomach of 
animals, than it is capable of being converted into animal matter; and 
when farther purified by the delicate organs of the human body, 
reaches the utmost perfection of created intelligence.” 
Although I cannot give to water all the merit of sustaining veget¬ 
ation, I allow there can be no vegetation without it, and that in pro¬ 
portion to the absorbent properties of manure, are the facilities afforded 
to plants to draw their nourishment from it.. Admitting, then, the 
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