Salt
A general term used by chemists to signify compounds formed by the union of an acid with a metal, or with some other substance of similar chemical powers, and known as a base. For example, Sodium Carbonate is made up of Carbonic Acid, and of the metallic base Sodium. So Ammonium Nitrate consists of Nitric Acid united with the base Ammonium. But the word "Salt" is often used by itself, or in the expression "Common Salt," to denote Sodium Chloride, the substance so familiar to everyone, and so essential as a part of our daily food. As the name Sodium Chloride denotes, it is composed of Sodium and Chlorine, there being in it one equivalent of each, or 23 parts of Sodium to 351/2 of Chlorine by weight. Both elements have been found to occur in the ashes of all plants, and in special abundance in those of maritime districts. There is great doubt as to the use of each element, since experiments tend to show that neither is absolutely essential to any plant. Yet common Salt has long been used as a manure, and there is a very general belief among agriculturists that it is valuable in strengthening Cereals, and increasing the yield from them, and also in destroying noxious insects and weeds. Experiments on its use have afforded no very definite results. Dr. Voelcker found that it rather lessened the yield of straw, and had no appreciable effect on the grain, and that it restrained any tendency to rank growth. He also found that, when supplied to Mangel-Wurzel, it increased the weight of the crop. It is able to bring nitrogenous substances in the soil, and in farmyard and artificial manures, into a condition suited for being absorbed by plants; hence, it is probably of use in this way. It has been observed that it produces markedly useful results when supplied along with nitrogenous manures. There is usually no need to supply Salt to soils on the sea-coast, as they are already supplied from the sea by spray. The refuse Salt of the fish or ham-curer is the cheapest and most suitable form in which to employ Salt as manure.