Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-15
JoHN KERN, JR., Sec'y.

GYPsUN-ITs USE AS a FERTILIZER.-A writer in the
Baltimore Sun, over the signature of Ayrshire" sub
mits the following views respecting the application Of
Gypsum:
The suphae Of lime gypsum, plaster, as it is usu.
ally termed has perhaps more extensive consumption
in agriculture than any OF the specific fertilizers within
the limits Of the Atlantic border. For twenty wears
or less its application has been almost universal 10y
Eastern Virgnians Before the days OF Peruvian GU
auO plaster and clover the most reliable improvers
accessible to the farmer and if plaster has become too
slow for some, doubt much whether they will fat
lands and fast horses in the long run.
The most important ingredient in gypsum is suphurc
acid; of this it contains Al per cent of lime 33 and
u per cent the latter exists by equalization
The suphurc acid Toll Of yitroD in term is simply
manure being the food and constituent parts to excess
in some plants otherwise il Is powerful sOvent-dis
uniting the mineral substances OF the soil hitherto in
soluble and mechanically bound, and thereby bringing
them in "a available food for vegetation Alike it acts
on the humus vegetable mOuld) jointly with its lime as
a decomposer. But the richest property of this acid
conceded by chemists consists of its attracting ammonia
from the atmosphere and combining il with the soil thus
forming most valuable manuEe In the falling of rains
the carbonate of ammonia is brought down. it being
lighter than water which is absorbed by the lands but
would again rise with the coming sunshine were il not
for the suphuc acid that changes into uphate of
ammonia property that readily Incorporates and al.
heres to the soil. Hence the phrase-'it fixes the
monia'
Soils destitute of organic matter humus, such as hill
side CALLS thirsty plains burnt out by continual crop
ping can receive little no benefit from the of pas
ter but naked spot somewhat cayed which contains
only small per cent OF this humus will in time after
repeated dressings set with grass Loans which con-
tain a due proportion of clay and sand best suited
for satisfactory result 10 the application of plaster on
these its effects are developed in the growth of
plants because they easily admit the absorption ogeh
er with the large amount which may be used to the
the consistency it mparts to the soil and the more
lasting benefits accruing-aAd serve hejudcous farmer
to pasture his fields high state of fertility. Were
it necessary could cite number Of plantations in the
Piedmont consisting mostly Of this description of soil,
which have received annually for a long period very
liberal supply of gypsum; and where the amount has
not been curailed instead of rerOgradng they still i'm
prove producing fine sod and all the crops satisacto-
rly; except occasionally wheat But, with drill, and
100 pounds of Peruvian guano to the acre. "a suhcency
on lands in good heart this last objection is most sue
cessiully remedied.
As a top drssssf. for clover, would recommend the
sowing early February. Erom two to three bush
els to the acre is by no m over quantity; but
some divide this amount in frequent dressings during the
year with good results long drought following its ap-
pcatOn is nearly Objectionable too much rain In
damp weather succeeded by genial skies is favorable
time for sowing On Indian corn, bucGwheat, clover,
peas beans aud sorghum its application best for these
contain the largest per Of its ingredients. OF the
last with this fertilizer alone have grown on
light sandy soil from nine to ten feet in height, that
would not Weld more than two barrels of TO the
acre in the same season.
When used IN compost with manure or in connection
with other fertilizers gypsum produces the most surpris-
ing results strcwn manure piles, mixed along
with muck and manure Il will prevent the escape OF the
gases and chemically enrich the decomposition Added
TO salt bOnedus ashes and urine, when cOmpOsted with
muck ,hese fertilizers enhanced fifty per cent