Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-10-18
Whole No. GAO.

falling thereon, but because it is more slowly
eyaporated. Whoever viii be at the pains to
examine will find, that this appearance is not
confined to the plaster but that grass grow
ing on ground made rich by any other means,
will show the same difference, when compar~
ed with the same Kind, growing on poor
ground along side of it or if observed when
the sun shines after a shower of rain when
both must be effectually wetted without at
traction) the same thing will be seen, and 10
easy to be accounted for on philosophical
principles. The soil upon which the grass
grows luxuriantly and retains the moisture, il
| always of darker colour and softer texture.
than the poor soil adjoining: it being there
| fore more fifty adapted to imbibe the solar.
rays, they pass freely into it, while they ara
plentifully reflected back from the hard light
coloured poor soil, on the drops of moisture
suspended on the grass, operating in the same
manner as the rays of heat from a reflector
placed behind roasting meat: Add to this that
the grass always grows thickest on the rich
SOIL which will also contribute to prolong
the drying operation.
| Where this manure has great effect, it in
some measure answers the purpose of deep
| pIoughing many have discovered that nash.
ing ceases where it is frequently applied with
advantage to the crops. This is certain
proof that the soil is opened to sufficient
depth to imbibe the whole of the heaviest
rains, and thereby prevents the accumulation
of water on the surface: Hence we may safely
conclude that its operation continues much
deeper than the usual ploughing. This is the
secret which has prevented some Pennsylva-
mia improvers from discovering the necessity
of deep cultivation ! have been told that
. MI rbo,
the subject of deep ploughing have answered.
that their crops have succeeded well with the
usual depth, and therefore have not seen the
necessity of going deeper. But let them cease
to use the plaster, or confne their operations
to soil where its effects are jnconsiderable.
and then, after fair trial of both methods
if they do not see cause to change their opinion
am very much mistaken.
Judging from the experience we have had
of this manure, the judicious use Of it is Ger.
tainly to be recommended, while it can b
had at the present low price. l prefer using
it as top dressing for upland grasses, N thS
rate of from three pecks to bushel per aero
But those who substitute it for every Other
kind of manure and neglect all other means
Of improving their lands, will probably one
day fiEd that they are not SO far advanced il
agricultural knowledge as their present sue.
cess may lead them to suppose.
am acquainted in some neighbourhoods
where the farmers are fast increasing in wealth
their crops having nearly doubled within Sc.
ven years, and the face of the country aston.
ishingly changed for the better; and vet do
not believe they have made much progress il,
substantial agricultural knowledge. Accident
has put them on the use of gypsum, and this
has done every thing for them that is done :
if accident should again deprive them of it.
they will probably, in a few years, find the
quality of their soil and quantity of produce
nearly the same they were before the use of it.
This however is far from being the case
with all who are in the practice Of using it !;
there are in America, men of observation,
of genius and industry, who are making the
best use of this valuable foreign manure, while
| it is in their power but at the same time are
paying such attention to the principles of ag-
| riculture in general that if this should be i'm
| mediately withheld from them, they would
| nevertheless, be found in the high road for
improvement and some of them perhaps al
ready in possession of the secret of preserv-
ing their farms for any length Of time, in .
productive, and even improving state, with
out any foreign assistance whatever
Before l leave the subject of gypsum I
would just observe, that although think
highly of Richard Peters publication on this
in general, yet cannot unite with him in be-
leying it a " whimsical substance - on the
contrary, believe it to be as perfectly regu-
lar in its operations as any other manure,
when applied to soils upon which it is capable
of acting The quantity of moisture it re-
ceives, will no doubt, in some measure govern
the effect, but this believe will be invaria-
BILE the same causes in this, as well as other
manures, uniformly producing the same eff
fects In short, | have never yet seen any Of
it's effects or failures, but what may be ac-
counted for by the foregoing theory