The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-03
ILASrER-ITS ACTION.

Causes Of its frequent Failure. If
sulphur is entirely absent in soils. plas-
ter, by furnishing that salt SO essential
TO the growth Of clover. wheat, Ac-
produces a marked and striking effect,
especially upon red c.over.
The result Of tho application Of 50
small portion AS one bushel to the acre
is almo., magical on some soils; so
much so, that spot which has receiv-
ed none, may be seen by the yellow,
sickly hue Of the grass. nlmos, as far
aS you can sec the land. Although so
small portion of gypsum will produce
beneficial effects, it does by no means
hold good that one bushel is sufficient,
although some will contend that hal: a
bushel is sufficient. Land which has
been much exhausted, requires a much
larger dose. and even four or five BUSH
els would no, he too much for one acre.
1t is we'll known that most nicncous
and granite soils contain potash; such
soils after having become exhausted by
severe cropping aud shallow plowins,
on being deeply plowed throw up fresh
portions of soil, the potash Of which
has not been consumed by the crops,
show surprising incrcse of fertility upon
the application Of plaster.
Plaster, then. not only acts by furn-
i>ling sulphur to the soil. bat also by
its chemical action upon the potash o
the soil, thereby rendering it fit to en-
ter into the growing crop. That sucl
is the case, is evident from TIE fact tla
after plaster upon having been appiie'
for series Of years, ceases to act, an,
the land Judging from the appearance
Of the grasses, is growing poor, the ap
plicaiion of twenty-five TO forty bush
els of ashes. per acre, 10 tn, soil, a
once restores the land to its fertility
and the crop Of grass, in many n,tan
ces. greatly exceeds the hes, produce u
former years. wien the plaster was do
ing the most good. After having re
cciyed one or two dressings Of ashc.
plaster acts upon the same soil as bcne
icially rs when at first used.
1t is perfectly plain, that the failur
Of plaster 10 produce beneficial cficc,
upon the land to which it has been fre
qucntly applied, arises, first, from a
excess Of sulphur in the sol! and sec
ondly, from the exhaustion of the pot
2 ash contained therein.
y We no, un:requen,ly hear farmer
r complain that plaster Injuries their lan'
G and upon inquiry. almost invariabl
n find that they uniformly sell all the
o hay, and never think of plowng the
fine crops o. red clover under. Tn
. always taking out of the meal IL
= and never putting in, mus, soon CON
20 the bottom They might as wo
complain that their plow horse. gro
T. weak upon an exclusive diet Of bucl
II wheat straw.
e All are well aware that plaster pr
s duces no visible effects upon some soil
n In all such instances there is already
!. suiIiciency, or perhaps an excess Of 81
II phur in the soil. Such lands like lin
stone lands generally, are more ben
fitted by the application Of barn. va
manure, than by lime or any other mi
ertl manure, if the expression is appI
cable.
Is From experience and ob'erva'ion,
d would advi>e that upon exhausted sol
= a heavy dressing Of plaster, no, lc
&c than two bushels to the acre should
y applied. have seen astonishing
II. fecls produced by such "A dressing, VIII
n, neither lime nor stable manure b
Il. been used. Two things. seems frc
- the foregoing, if allowed TO be CORE
y to suggest themselvc, TO the mind
" First, 'ha. upon worn out soils the
y lowancc should exceed one bushcl
'e the acre and secondly, that upon pl
- tcrs cea.ing TO act, ashes should q, or
be applied 10 restore the potash to |
is soil and third may be added, pl
II under clover.
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