Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-04-23

-ts u 'he advantage or disaagantare IN the
e %"ea' crop think II almost MS beneficial 4. ,be
hrS' dressing OF lndlln carn.n 10 ''''
''"' '"ihs AND REMARKS ON THE rrFgcrs or.rv
POSING GYPSUM TO the WEATHER.
ia ,..r,. pdlmonf, Jan %, 1888.
~ 'ae Editor OF the Farmers Register
have parcel of Plaster of Paris which h..
been several months EXPO ,cd in bo,sho,,
''''Sioaes OF weather, wet and dry hot and cold
even 10 freezing Il is the leapinss of nIastcr
y''u' una ms not completely ground, is mostly IN
sunny STATE with some Jumps these lumns ~; IN
~'u'",'e more easily than the humps as we first re-
)" want 10 know whether it has totally lost
10 '"'ut, or 10 what extent by exposure and
""c''e' III preparing II for use il would be nroner
ou'y II over The hre-for II is quite wet, and seems
very unwilling TO surrender its moisture A.
sonc oil Its oomponcnls presume il hos been n,r.
""l'y siaked, and Is therefore more or less wcelcn
co. have subjected ii to one test which sce,,e =,
.'''caie mat 1t is not entirely DESTROYED By heat,
''S1 ana men pouring water upon j. 1t runs looe
wv ana forms quite hard cement For w,nt nj
po' or Peoffash chnnotuy tby boiling with that
''O' n"'e 'he means OF determining whether the
'''u'''h ""o,o be carbonate of lime. When plas.
Ter Is scattered over the earth ii is Immediately IL,
lpfiA
anu all the elects OF sun, air and rain and un,yer
sal experience believe at,ests that !, 10 a'a
continuing IN It's action, not producing its fr,ctLv
any sudden nnc powerful impulse lis nc,i,o l. %
SLOW, that we have righ, to supnosc il il poi, ~,
long tlmc-ior months or ycnrs-Iono eGer tLo
wtahehog effects ol weather upon II have taken
pace. ne result OF an experiment at Dover. com
hu"caiea some yeats ago to the AgIicul,nrnl So.
'e'y o! richmond proved that the effects of plaster
were visible fourteen years, think, after thu nlns
| TER was applied and tia, | witnessed myself I'll,
$40" operation OF plaster, results from its yqoduS an
@aR@t, whether as an abSo,bcat, by drawing and
retaining moisture around the plant or es yol
rent, by preparing vegetable matter for lis food
he only difference thcn between the nn.Iication
OF plaster IN ITS fresh sae and in that which have
Supposed IS ~ lhc point, ofllme whilst IA the f ST
S,afe) the dIsSolvng or eating process occurs
Now, what Is the Talue Of that difference
VIII trouble you with another question, whilst
we are upon the subject. If plaster acfs merely ns
an aDSoftehf OF what consequence IS the nature of
'"c SOIL provided II Is loose enough 10 elbow the
powder 10 descend 10 tie roots mud no, SO loose MS
to allow II TO pass below thcml II az a Simula1,t
in any other way why should not moist SOL be
as sensible of its effects dry one, provided it is
not so wet us TO carry of the powder Would yon
advise limo or plaster in IA wet piece Of grouud-it
being prcsupposed that all practicable means nave
been used 10 drain ii ?-fo. believe il may be con
sdercd an axiom IN agriculture, that for whatever
purpose land Is intended it must be laid as dry
as possible.
1t Ut Editor lnterro9atories generally betray 10
norance, much more do they in tins particular case
and taking TO myself the compliment once paid to
| rope, might with proprc'y subscribe myself ?
b"t ho' having pflde enough TO hide my ignorance,
give you my proper apPeIIatIve, whlch you will
/ recognize 10 be that OF an OH felow-coegian.
y. II. HARRISON
! The fer going inquiries proceed from one VIII
has had far more practical cxpcIarce Of the u.s.
ard effects of gypsum than we I'VE ,.ain,l--and II
that mode Of observation and Of rraaf alone wer, 10
be the proper test We ought to tal.e r. rIoe IN our
want o:fxperience and remain silent Bat as nl9zl
Of the answers sought, must DEPEND nltope,hcr IN.
on the established chemical propertIes Of the sub
stanc IN question. W. can scarcely ar in deciifng
accorda!e 10 IN Sc pfop,f.j.4 and the remark.
which follow will b. cobfnod within .rci limits ss
wIll prevent our losing .igh Of lhls sure au5le-
without which. none VIII fail 10 wander lr,r,lrcer
tain,y and error.
The stacking Il daiekljmc. alone. is 10 cnuse of
injury. or weakenna of lis pawcr-bnt os this DO.
cess always rreeedeg or .ccono,pie, the mum
which IS really caused bv exposure 70 AIR. the slat
ing Of me IS generally considered as evidence Of
some progress at least ha,iny been mode in tAc
lines beconing carbonafcd ffete. or mild. or lo,
inc its necuar qualities as cauStie lime. + he new
" burnt material for lIme Cs slells or limestone
grocdIv attracts moisture and bv onItif.o chemical
" with water alone. II stakes but sill retaIGs al
its caus,lc power. which dcperd, no, on the alb
sence Of water but on the deprivation Of carbnnic
acid which the lime hal los, by burning. THIS
all ~, c,,,,c,s 70 co Hmm, ,,,i,b lilo I,,c