The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-14
PLASTER OF PARIS.

I = W '"'e on we use al Gypsum, or Plaster
0l rariS by J. Del, Esq. President If the New
l"lk Agrculiuhl Saciety. The first poriion
"' The article is devoted 10 a refnatnn Of some
opinions which lave been entertained as to the
causes oft fertility, such rs that IF lis draw
ING waller from tie atmosphere, &c. He then
/ proceeds 4
! Sir II. DavylI think, has suggested the
true cause of Iie fertility in gypsum: that
IL I"Iihs as necessary constituent of some
plants, as fey drops of peppermint 20 to
Il mint sling lnd that, when the soil docs
NOT contain il, n the small proportion need
co. It's hpplicltlon Is net essary Tor their
complete Development and perfection
ana int 1t IS Suiy useful TO such crops as
y'ftd on analysis, and on soils uhere
/ IS d.fcienL OF ME plants which con-
tam gypsum, Sir H. Davy has enumerat-
/ ell the clovers, lazern. sanfoln, and some
other grasses, in which he believes it may
exist to the amount OF three or four bushels
Oh an acre of these plants. The turnip
crop yields it in small quantities and If
thus theory Is correct, Indian corn and po-
/ tatocs will afford it, as it evidently benefits
these crops. He add, that gypsum is not
taken up an corn crops such as wheat, rye,
barley, &c. A couse Of experiments,
curing ten years, has satisfied me that
these clops are not hmefted, directly, by
Its application, but ofen indirectly, 10y in
creasing the growth of other vegetables,
which ultimately enrch the soil.
The soils which pl,ster most benefits, are
the poor lean Saints and sand loans and
It's effects diminish N proportion as these
herome more rich, alhesive,- or wet. The
dung OF cattle rontiins gypsum; so does
peat or hog earth. TO lands often dunged,
us encctS are consequently less percepti-
hle, That 1t does 10 prove cffiracious up
on wet lands, may heucc"unted for Ivy their
generally ahouniing IN log soil, and not
usually producing plults which contain Gyp-
sum.
AS TO the time and manner of appivinG
plalster, different options prevail 1t can.
not cutter the mouths OF plants until it is
diSSolve'!, or herone soluble. TO effect
this, $50 times its weight of water is found
|" ne requisite. Tins would seem to ln,.l-
cate that it should be sown early on grass
lands. My practice has been to SOW in
March, or early in April, and, II practicable,
upon light SNOW. When soMn late, and
IL dry summer ensues, its benefits are fire.
quenlly not per, rptIlIe, protai lv from the
ell. ] have followed the example OF two
great pioneers IN the Improvement OF Amer
lrhn huShandry, the late Judge Peters an
john Taylor, IN sowing it for Indian corn
consider the benefit III Is ttR Ills m neIdd more
certain, and the labor less, than that al
strewIng 1t OF the hills OF the glowing crop.
The experience OF practical men seems
to have fixed the proper quantity at from
one to two bushels the acre,
Plalster appeals partially to have lost its
1cthcn"y IN some parts of PENNSYLVANIA.
where 1t has been longest and most SUE
VeSsiuily used. II Is SAID, to adept the COM
mon language, that the soil has become tIr-
Ell OF 1t. | suspect too much reliance has
heen placed upon 1t and that IT mas been
used as a substitute, rather than as an aux
Hilary, Tor OH "las hloned baIn-yar dung.
There Is another way of accounting fur Its
apparent failure. has not the SOL hecone
tired OF the plants which 1t aids, and which
may have exhausted 1t Of some other con-
StItdent! In the Norfolk system of alttl-
nate huS5andry, was long ago ascertain
ell that clover could not lie sown to a,.van.
tage ottener thai every second course, or
once IN eIght'or Ten years, aud other grass
es we've consequently al.ernatcd with it,.
/ The pr&tlce IN Pemsy has been,
believe, to continue sowing clover every
four or five years
The preceding view of the subject, and
my personal experience, induce me to offer
the following lulfs for the consideration OF
the farmer:
l. That plaist'r may he applied to pas
turp ana meadow lanUs, hot absolutely wei,
with strong probability OF pr0ht-aS 1t I'M
doubiCdly forms Il constituent OF many OF
! the grasses, increases their vIgor, and Lnick
ems the soil.
2. That ii mP lie applied, with equal
J prospect OF success, to the male and potato
1 rop, and think, to le4unleS, such Us peas,
heans, &c. These nelng sown, as good
hushanury implies, upon lands naturally
! tree from surface water, ar rendered so by
draining.
). That its benefits are greatest upon
sands, gIavels, and light loans and that
these benefits diminish IN proportion as the
soil becomes rich, either naturally, or by
The application Of dung,
/ 4. That plaster never can become n sub
Stltute Tor dung, but may he rendered a
valuable auXilIary-benCtittin some crops
directly, and all remotely, by increasing the
volume Of vegetable matter, which Ultimate
! Iy becomes the fool Of plants.
( D. That irrm one to two bushels per acre
is sufficient annual dressing for lands.
q. That upon grass it is most profitably
sown early, that the vernal rains may rem
der it soluble and upon TILED crops before
the last plonghing, HAT the moisture III the
soil may perform this office in season, in
both cases, to benefit the summers growth
And, finally, that is use can he best reg.
ulated by the farmer himself carefully not.
ing lis effects upon different crops; soils
&C., always leaving strip upholstered up
on crops which 1t Is supposed To benefit, am
plalsterlng Il strip upon those on which 1t,
benefits are doubtful J. BUEL. =
.4ibdny .NurSerH .lou. "a.