Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21

1t requires from APO to 500 times its
| weight OF water TO dissolve it. When pure,
it does not efervesce with acids; it is in :
sipid in taste, and free from smell. A
simple mode OF trying its quality consists
in putting quantity Of it pulyerized into
a dry pot over Inc fire, and when heated
| it gives out sulphurious smell. II the
ebulilion or bubling which then tokes
place be considerable, the plaster is good !;
but if not, it is considered Indifferent; and
| if it remain molionless, like sand. it is mol
thought to be worth anything. Its effects
in benefuing agriculture have been great
est in Germany and in The United States.
Its benefits in Great Britain and France
have been less obvious.
The soil upon aghieh gypsum operates
most benejfeially are the light, dry, sandy,
and gravelly. Upon soils containing lit.
to or no vegetable matter, is effect is
trifling but when these lands are dressed
with dung, the gypsum then produces a
great effect; and, the dung being present,
the poorer the land, The greater It's bene-
fits. 1t seldom produces any sensible ef-
feet upon wet grounds, and frequently
none upon stiff clays.
IHeEcrops which are most benefited 5v
gypSuns are clovers, luce:ne, Indian corn,
and pease. There are some few cases
noticed of its being found beneficial to
wheat aud other small grains; but it is
the generally received opinion that it does
not operate directly on these. Gypsum,
however, may be made indirectly benef-
cial 10 all crops which are grown upon
clover lay. by causing greater growth
/ of clover. which becomes food for the crop
which follows, and which is abundant in
proportion TO the rankness OF the previous
ic!over. Its effect upon turnips is doubtful;
and some will not allow that it is beneti-
cial to potatoes. Dayy lays il down Us a
TACT, that il is most beneficial 10 those
plants which always afford il on analysis ];
and the small grains are not found to con-
tain i at al. Many instances are given
where its application has doubled and
tripled the clover-crop.
The quality aohich should be applied 10
The acre is point quite unsettled and ii
should probably be varied according TO
soil and circumstances. John Taylor, OF
Virginia, and Judge Peters, of Penn con-
Cured in opinion, that on lands where il
was applied annually. one bushel TO an
acre was ample dressing. In Europe it is
recommended to dress with FIVE or six
bushels TO the acre. We have generally
sown but bushel; but last spring, by
way ofexperiment we doubled the dres-
sing on a portion of meadow, and found
the grass there much the heaviest. It is
advisable to try it in different quantities.
and 10 note the result Of each, as guide
to future practice.
The time Of applying gypsum is gener-
ally III the spring. sometimes as late as
May or June. The writer Of British
Husbandry recommends, with much
plausibility. that gypsum beapplied 10 clo-
yer seini-annually, viz soon after the
crop is mown in summer. and in the spring
illus. after the plants have begun TO shoot.
We shall be thankful for memoranda OF
any experiments that may have been made
IN this practice in our own country, and
also iOhether Il produces a better efect
sCtea laid on IN dry than IN icet weather
The work from which we have Just quoted
dwells with emphasis on the importance
OF having the gypsum attach 10 and remain
upon the leaves ofthe young plants. and