The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-03-13
Agricultural.
From Del. Co (Pa.) Republican,
Gypsum: or P,aster-Stone.

We are indebted to correspondent for the
annexed article in answer TO - HE FAR
MERs IN our last paper:
MIR WALTER The history Of the intro
duclion Of this neStimab ole fer l|izer into the
Safe of Pennsylvania, for which a writer in
the last number of The Repubhtm makes an
inquiry NAV he found al lcns h in DR. A T
NJ WiLLlCH's Domestic Encyclopaedia, from
winch make The following * ract: -
"A5,ut the year 1862 GuYGER, native of
Koshchopen, Bucks county, penns, lvania.
who had rc..ovtd 10 Germany, sent keg Of
ground Gypsum to jacob Barge innk'cper
of Phila delphia and mentioned that it had
been ,onnd highly ben. fetal in Germany as a
manure for clover, reques ing him to purchase
any farm on which The stone was to be found
as he wished to return to America. The keg
was left at Rotterdam, TO which place it was
sent to he shipped but Mr. b determined
upon putting to the test the character given
of the stone. He therefore obrarncd from
manufacturer Of burr mill stones in Philad,l
phia, aud srewtd it. in The spring. on u moist
place, (where syihe never had been used
in a watcrcd mt adpw belonging to Mr.. Heck,
Err, of White Marsh
he first accoun. Mr. & had Of the success
OF the experiment was. after some months,
when he was informed Of the uncommon lux
uriance Of the grass. and of its superiority to
that in olher parts of the meadow. Mr. Hook,
cr being convinced. immedla ely tried the
Gypsum. and MIR Lancaster. his nvighbor. fol.
lowed his example. Mr.. Clifford near BriSto
Penna., and David Dcshier of Philadvlphia al
so used it al an early period Afterwards the
late MIR Stoneburncr OF Germantown used 1t.
and by the superiority of his crops of grass
over those Of his ncighbors, who had ma
nnred very highly with stable manure showed
them its importance, and induced them to EN-
ploy it. The uncommon product Of the land
when .trcwed with Gypsum, as might be ex-
pcctcd. became subject Of general CONVEX.
sation. and the demand became so great, that
Mr. Barge was induced to erect a hand mill
TO grind it. lie also continued to use 1t in
the vicinity of Philadelphia. and thus TO
spread its fame.
RICHARD PETERS, Esq also became an
eally proSclyte to the opinions of it's virtues.
and has done much towards destroying the
preindices against it. by pointing out the par.
tlcular soils in which 1t answers best. Sill
however, from the abSurdi,y of some people
who expected it to do wonders on all soils in
all situations, in every crop and under all cir
cnlnstanccs, and did not find 1t to answer
Their eX4 citations. doubted the facts stated,
and even opposed its use. But all opposition
has been Surmounted and is now in such de
mand that the importation of this article
alone gives employment to many vessels from
the Bay of Fundy: and few wagons leave
Philadelphia without Carrying some home
Mills going by norsts are erected with the sole
view ofgrlnd:nE it, and machinery for the
same purpose il connected with the grlst-mil!s
throughout the country.
The utility OF gypsum 10 grass was dis
covered n the following way, as stated by
Mr.. Guyger to Mr.. Barge. \ ahorcr at a
gypsum quarry, near the Hilburn IN Germany,
was in the habit Of walking across meadow
after his in work. in order to shorten his dis
lance home and that he might avoid dis
covery of the treSSpass. he frequently varied
his direction. In tn" course of the season he
the uncommon lux uriancy of thu
grass IN the direction which he had been accus
toned to take in his route home and imagin
ing that it must have proceeded from tn,
dust of the gypsum which fell from his
Clothes, tried the experiment to determlue the
point The event answered his expectations
The ci!rct was communicated to he Prince.
to whom the district belonged, and soon made
public