It will be seen by the table of analysis of roots, that the Mangold
has in it a remarkably large percentage of Chlorine and Soda, the
roots yielding respectively 9.9 and 18.4, while the tops give, 17.8
and 23.3. Salt being a combination of Chlorine and Soda, known
to chemists as Chloride of Sodium, must therefore be a valuable
auxiliary manure for Mangolds, that is, one to be used in connection
with other manures. Practice proves what chemistry indicates. Prof.
Voelcker tells us that “salt tends to check over-luxuriance in the
tops, while it prolongs the period of active growth. In consequence
of this specific action it may be employed with benefit as an
auxiliary manure upon light land, in quantities not greater than
five bushels to the acre.” Mr. Lewes, of New York, believes that by
scattering over the surface, when the Mangolds develop the fourth
leaf, four or five bushels of the refuse of the Syracuse salt works,
which is about equal parts of salt and plaster, he has increased his
crop ten tons to the acre. Mr. Lewes finds that salt tends to prevent
a disease which sometimes attacks the leaves, known as “rust.” He
states that it can be obtained at the works for about $3.50 per ton.
Prof. Voelcker believes it would be injurious rather than beneficial
on heavy land.
The quantity to be applied to the acre as given by practical
growers, varies from four to twenty-five bushels. The effect is
not always the same; one season the increase may be very striking
and the next, under the same application, not be perceptible, the
cause of which is not very clear, though it appears to give better
results in dry seasons than in wet. The most striking effect from
the application of large quantities, in my experience, has been on
the borders of meadow land. A number of years ago I manured in the
furrow with refuse herring bait, salt and all, just as taken from
the fish barrels. The crop of Mangolds grown from this manuring was
one of the largest and smoothest I ever raised. The next season the
land was planted to Oats. In the Fall, while laying a heap of this
oat straw in the barn, I chanced to use one as a tooth-pick. It
tasted as though it had been pickled; thinking it was the result of
some accident, I took another; that also was salt. This aroused my
curiosity and on examination I found farther, to my great surprise,
that all the straw tasted as though it had been dipped in pretty
strong brine. Certainly this tremendous salting, over and above what
the crop of Mangolds could use, to all appearance, had not lessened
the bulk of roots. On meadow land, Mr. Ware of this town, thinks that
in a dry season he doubled his crop by the application of refuse
salt, at the rate of twenty-five bushels to the acre. In purchasing
waste salt for this or any other agricultural crop, it is best to get
the dirtiest lot possible, for this dirt is the waste of the fish on
which it has been used, and consists mostly of fish scales, which for
manuring purposes is decidedly the most valuable part of the fish.
For this reason the waste from salted herring is probably the most
valuable of all.