“Nitrate of soda has the same general effect upon root crops as nitrogenous manures, but it appears to be more energetic in its action, and, on the whole, to be a useful addition to home manures, and to increase the produce in roots more considerably than sulphate of ammonia. Its effect is specially marked upon Mangolds, and, to my knowledge, heavy crops of Mangolds have been produced upon rather light land by 1 1-2 cwt. of Nitrate of Soda, two cwt. of common salt, sown broadcast, and four cwt. of dissolved bones drilled in with the seed. “Potash salts in some field experiments which I have tried in different parts of the country, have shown that Potash has a decidedly beneficial effect upon root crops, on poor, sandy soils; while on the majority of land, and notably upon clays or clay loams, or soils in a good agricultural condition, Salts of Potash do not increase the produce. The special effect of superphosphates, dissolved bones and similar phosphatic manures, is to produce early maturity; and hence phosphatic manures are employed in practice very largely, and with much benefit, by root growers. In free-growing, light soils, it is desirable either to use dissolved bones in addition to half dressing of farm-yard manure, as a manure for roots, or to spread broadcast 2 or 3 cwt. of salt, or 2 cwt. of guano and 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda and 2 cwt. of common salt, and to drill with the seed 3 to 4 cwt. of dissolved bones. On the heavier description of soils it is preferable to use mineral superphosphate for roots, especially if the land has been dressed in Autumn with a moderate quantity of dung.” SALT AS AN AUXILIARY MANURE. 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.