and as wheat likes a hard soil it is better to have the land prepared in the fall; the tooth of the harrow will lighten the soil enough.

Mr. Chamberlain said in his vicinity the wheat crop last year was very light, and the failure was caused by the weevil entirely; the straw was very bright in nearly all instances.

Mr. Haines stated that he had found weevils in a forty bushel crop of wheat;-that the Siberian tea wheat had succeeded best with him.

Mr. Wasson, at some length, reviewed the causes of the diminution of the wheat crop, the various opinions of farmers why it was not so successful as formerly, and of the opinions of scientific men in regard to the real cause of its failure.

The paper was accepted, and placed at the disposal of the Secretary.

Mr. Rogers presented the following paper

ON SALT AS A FERTILIZER.

Owing to a press of business this subject has not received that attention which it should have had, consequently, in reporting at this time, I am unable to do so with any degree of definiteness in regard to the matter.

It seems to be a very generally received opinion that salt acts beneficially as a fertilizer. Whether that conclusion has been arrived at as the result of experience, or whether it has been adopted by general consent, without regard to facts, the writer is unable to say. In presenting this article he does it with a view to elicit discussion, and thus to obtain something reliable, rather than as a report of facts in regard to the subject.

Boussingault remarks, that "the action of common salt as a fertilizer is very obscure. Many skilful husbandmen question its efficacy. Nevertheless, when moderately employed, it seems to do good."

Browne, in his American Muck Book, after stating that salt has been employed in all ages, and in all countries, for the purpose of promoting vegetation, says: "Yet it would be difficult to name any other substance in the catalogue of modern fertilizers, the powers of which have been subject to so much controversy, and even doubted and denied as exercising any beneficial effects to the

crops to which it has been applied." He, however, concludes that it does act beneficially as a manure, and cites an experiment conducted in England upon potatoes, and various kinds of garden produce, the yield of which appeared to be considerably increased by the application of salt.

He says further, that "applied to grain crops on light soils, at the rate of five hundred or six hundred pounds to the acre, salt increases the produce of seed and very much improves its weight and quality;" and with regard to the destruction of vermin by means of salt, he asserts that "there is no agricultural use of it more undoubted." This latter assertion, we think, is not in accordance with facts, unless it is applied in such quantities as not alone to destroy the vermin, but also all vegetation, and render the soil sterile and unfruitful, as was customary in olden time, in order to completely destroy a conquered city and rendered it uninhabitable. We read in scripture that Abimelech took the city of Shechem, "and beat down the city and sowed it salt," that the soil might be forever unfruitful.

Sir Humphrey Davy supposed that where salt acts as a manure, it is probably by entering into the composition of the plant. A mixture of salt and quick lime in the proportion of one part of the former dissolved in water, to three of the latter, is recommended as being a valuable auxiliary to muck and other matter in the compost heap. It is said to be an established fact, that salt when used in small quantities, instead of preserving animal or vegetable matter, hastens its decomposition. If such be the fact, a slight application of it may be beneficial to plants, by hastening the decomposition of vegetable and other matter in the soil. One member of this Board informs us that he has derived benefit from an application of salt to his pasture land. We have frequently thrown fish pickle and refuse salt upon parts of our garden, but failed to notice any perceptible benefit to crops resulting therefrom, excepting perhaps where it may have been applied about cabbages.

The last season, after having prepared a piece of ground for potatoes, and when planting, salt was applied at the rate of a handful to a hill, placed around the potato, generally at sufficient distance from the tuber as not to injure the sprout. There was no perceptible difference in the growth of these potatoes from those adjoining, where no salt was applied, excepting in a few instances where it was placed in too close proximity to the tuber, in which

case they either did not come at all, or if so, grew very feebly. It is well known that as a special manure for asparagus, cabbage, and plants of a similar nature, salt acts very beneficially, and possibly it may be used with good results as a manure for some particular soil, but that it can be used to advantage, in increasing the fertility of soil generally, in the mind of the writer is extremely doubtful, though he is not prepared to say that such is not the fact. I am well aware that marine manures, such as muscle bed, eel grass and rock weed, are successfully used by farmers along our sea coast and navigable rivers, but think their fertilizing effects are dependent upon other properties rather than the salt they contain.

Hoping that wiser and more experienced minds than mine will throw more light upon the subject, I cheerfully submit this report for the consideration of the Board.

Mr. Anderson thought salt would not show so good results in Mr. Rogers' locality as it would in his own. He had seen very marked effect on his barley crop by the application of salt; also upon his mangolds. He used it at the rate of from two to four · bushels per acre for barley; and a table spoonful of salt and ashes to the hill for potatoes. Upon mangolds he used it at the rate of twenty bushels per acre sown broadcast.

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Mr. Goodale referred to the use of salt in the culture of the mangold, and had known it to have the best results. Indeed he thought it almost indispensable to raising a good crop of mangolds at a distance from the sea shore. Should be applied at about the rate of twenty bushels per acre, unless it is applied near the time of sowing the seed, when it should be sown in smaller quantities. Refuse salt could sometimes be obtained cheaply, and used with considerable profit.

Mr. Jaquith stated his soil to be high, dry, slaty land, and had applied salt to his pastures with a good effect, as it caused the grasses to grow luxuriantly. Had also used brine about his plum trees and received a benefit from the application.

Mr. Leach. Sowed two bushels of salt on one-half acre sowed with barley; and also sowed one-half acre of barley without the application. The barley on the piece where salt was applied was much better than that where it was not applied. This experiment was performed in 1860. The grass on the salted portion has been better than that on the part of the field unsalted.

Mr. Bigelow had made some application of salt at different times but had seen no effect from its usage. Had used it some in com

post heap.

Mr. Pratt had seen salt applied to gooseberry bushes at the rate of half a pint around each bush, for the purpose of killing insects, but it did not do it, nor was it of any benefit whatever.

Dr. Weston had used a mixture of spent lime and salt to his cabbages, and it had the effect of keeping off the worms. He had also used it in forming a compost of lime, muck, ashes, &c., and it had proved an excellent fertilizer. Had used it around plum trees with good effect.

Mr. Jaquith. Had never seen a black knot on any of his trees, where he had used salt. But neglecting to apply it for a year or two it came on.

Mr. Rogers' paper was accepted, and placed at the disposal of the Secretary.

Mr. Haines of Aroostook, submitted the following paper

ON FARM STOCK.

My attention has been given to the subject of live stock breeding for more than thirty years, and in offering this paper for your consideration, I do not desire to commit the Board of Agriculture to an expression in favor of any particular breed or race, but to present, for whatever they may be thought worth, the conclusions to which, after very considerable experience, a plain, practical farmer-ambitious for no other distinction-has arrived. These conclusions have been reached by no mere theorizing or fancy scheming, nor from the persuasions of other men, but through my own careful trials of the several breeds mentioned. I had no prejudices to combat that I am aware of. If I had predilections they certainly were in favor of the breeds first proved and rejected.

In neat stock, I bred Durhams or Short-Horns, Herefords and Devons, of pure blood, for many years respectively. I have also crossed these several breeds and bred crosses of almost every grade. I prefer either of the others to the Durham, because they will better stand the rigors of our cold winters, and the short pastures of our dry summers; because they are better travellers, are more easily matched as steers and make better working oxen-(a yoke of six and a half feet Herefords or Devons will, in my opinion, per

form as much work as seven feet Durhams, and be kept at much less expense.) I consider the Devons much the best of the three, as they are equally hardy with the Herefords, full as good for labor and beef, and the cows are far better milkers,-the best milker I own or know of, for her size, is a full blood Devon; her dam was the herd-book cow "Brunette II." (1825,) now on the farm of the State Reform School. Her sire was "old Winchester," got out of the herd-book cow "Fancy," (710,) by the herd-book bull "Bloomfield," (148.) This Devon cow of mine has had four calves and has been dry but eleven weeks altogether since she first came to milk. She would undoubtedly have yielded milk all the time if I had been willing to keep up her milking; and she is a marked exception to the general rule that good milkers can hardly be kept in flesh, as she is always in fine condition. Devons are also of a much more docile and quiet disposition than either of the other breeds, and the steers are still more easily matched then the Herefords, and at the same size will command a higher price than any other breed.

In selecting neat stock, I seek for symmetry of form and fineness of bone in animals of medium size, having invariably found these to be better feeders and to pay better every way than coarse beasts. Deep chests, broad backs and full flanks, are, in my estimation, the most important points. With these I would like to obtain a barrel-shaped body, well ribbed home, rather a straight belly, a clean head and a bright eye. If these last can be got the neck will always be well enough. An animal which is narrow along the back, slab-sided, with open ribs not carried well back, and a great sack of a belly swashing about, is not a promising animal for milk or anything else, in my opinion.

By selecting with care, and a little extra cost for males, any one of our farmers may, in two or three years, double the value of his live stock. And those who thus obtain grade animals, may derive greater profits from their herds, and perhaps realize more cash annually than those who, with ten times the capital invested, are scrupulously breeding from pure blood exclusively. The infusion of fresh blood, and especially that of the strongly marked character of the pure race of Devons, brings up their herds with a jump; increasing the size and symmetry of their animals and giving them weight and beauty. It has been within my observation, that those who have these grades, obtain five dollars more a head for their