Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-13
AaritMltnral.
PLASTER FOR GRASS AND OTHER CROPS.

pastures during May 1t SnOuld nave DeeH
sown, however, in April, but where 1t has
been neglected, good results will follow by
spreading it upon the land now. We sup
pose in this enlightened age there are few
farmers that object to the use of plaster as
'top-dressing on grass lands. Occasion
ally we find persons who do not like to use
it, and who are afraid that it exhausts the
land, and will soon run out the farm Such
persons do not read the agricultural pa
pers they don't believe that any good can
come out of printed matter, that touches
upon farming They are about forty years
behind the times, work hard, get small
crops, and are eternally complaining of bad
luck. If they keep dairy, they usually
belong to the class of 800 pounds dairy
men not that their personal weight will
turn the scales at that enormous figure, but
that the average annual yield of cheese
from their herds is about 800 pounds per
COW. 1t is hard to convince these Old-fash-
ioned gentlemen that cows can be made to
produce annually 600 and 700 pounds, and
when statements are made to that effect,
they are viewed with an incredulous dis
gust which says, these are the stories of
the agricultural papers and book farmers"
Well, the tax gatherer is going to visit
these old-fashioned farmers and present an
argument that will be likely to be remem-
bcred. A kind of waking up argument to
produce more grass, more milk, and larger
crops When one finds an absolute neces-
slty staring him in the face, he begins to
look around for means to meet it and so,
perhaps, our increased taxes will serve
good purpose after all, in making us better
100 ~ Il &c
getting better returns, and pushing us for
ward to devise ways and means to obtain
these ends.
Several years ago we remember hearing
an old dairy farmer argue the plaster ques-
tion in this wise. He had a good upland
farm and was somewhat noted for keeping
a large stock, and getting a heavy yield Of
cheese from his herd He sowed plaster
literally on meadows and pastures, but
was not thoroughly convinced that this
top-dreSSng was an important element in
his success. He was inclined to believe
that he was wasting money and labor and
so for some years he abandoned the use Of
plaster on his farm, but the result was
very unsatisfactory His herd dropped off
in their product 100 pounds of cheese per
cow. The meadows did not yield sufficient
hay for wintering stock, and fodder had to
be purchased. In fine, said he, | found
had been an old fool, and was glad to get
back again in my old tracks
Now, perhaps, the same result could not
be had on all farms, nor in all we have
said do we wish to be understood that the
farmer is to place his whole reliance upon
plaster, or that by its use he can get along
without other manurcs, for plaster properly
is not manure in the fullest sense of the
word. 1t does not enrich the land, but in
duceS plants to better appropriate fertiliz-
ing material, and prevents the waste Of
matter that can be made available in the
processes of vegetation. The action of
plaster is not fully understood 1t acts
partly as manure, feeding the plants with
its sulphuric acid and lime, and partly as a
stimulant, Fastening by its lime the decay
of vegetable matter in the soil. Its con-
stitucnts are III 100 parts, as follows -
Water, q lime, 80 sulphuric acid, 46.
1t attracts ammonia from the atmosphere,
and retains it for the use of vegetation
This fact is put to practical use by some
observing farmers We remember hearing
at Il club meeting of farmers, one of the
members remark that he knew Of a very
shrcwd operator in his ncighborhood, who
when his neighbors chanced to be spread
ing manure i'll fields adjoining his own, al
wavs commenced sowing plaster, and in
this way was actually benefited at his
mcighbor's expense. He said he had fire.
pucntly noted the effect of such sOwings,
and il was a convincing argument to him
to usc plaster Immediately after top-dress-
ing his grass lands, since he did not care
ho +h,, l., I,, nj .,,F1
his neighbours fields, by allowing the bet
ter portions of the manure to be evapOrated
and carried in the atmosphere for thc use
of somebody else.
The effect Of plaster on large Ieaved
plants is more marked than on others
hence potatoes, corn, and viEes etc, are
greatly benefited by its use Its infu-
cucc on the clover is extremely favorable
to the growth of that plant and it is on
this account, therefore, which renders it so
valuable on dairy farms for the production
of milk. In the application of plaster to
grass lands there is difference of opinion
among farmers whether it should be ap-
piled annually, or every alternate season
some follow one practice, and some the
other. When applied annually of course a
lighter coating can be used The quantity
per acre will depend on the land if a con,
siderable portion is already in the soil, a
less quantity is needed, and the soil may
contain So much as not to be effected bv
It's nse. 1t is applied with good results at
the rate of bushel per acre. Some use
considerably more, and soon learn to adapt
the quality to the particular location so as
to produce the best returns We have al
ways found the best results from plaster on
grass lands when applied early in the sea
son, so as to get all the benefit of the spring
rains, or before grass starts in the spring.
When used later it is always best to sow
just before "a rain.
Some farmers say that its application
late on pasture lands, and at time when it
is not followed by rains, but remains on
the grass to be partly consumed by stock,
is injurious to milch COWS They claim that
itinduces a complaint known among dairy
men as fly III the teat," OF gradual stop
page of the milk passage of the teat, and
of course destroying that portion of the
bag. We have been accused by dairymen
whose herds have been badly afflicted with
this trouble, and we do claim to have piy-
en- the matter special attention, that it was
plainly traced to this cause. We give the
SuOrpStiOn for what If Is wortL w; o,,+ =;