Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-08-23

10 uuuer6tann the hcuOu OF tntS or huy Otn.
er manure or stimulant, we must frst clearly
understand its competition. Gypsum or plaster
10 what Is known TO chemists as eulphate of
lime; that is lime in combination with sulphur
ic acid or oil of viriol is composed of one part
Of sulphur united wi h three of oxygen; lime 10
composed OF one of calcium united with one
OF oxygen. Nor 10 the composition OF the mo-
nure the oulY thing requisite, for We must
snow something about the composition OF our
soil.
1t has been proven by series Of careful /
chemical analysis, that sulphur enters more or
less Into the composition Of all kinds OF grain |
or roots, and in fact in everything that grows. |
Plants during the Day give off oxygen and al
sotb oarbonic acid; thus the plant takes The
sulprurlo acid OF the sulphats of lime into ito
circulation aud absorb, the sulpher, thus GET
ting the oxygen tree aud ready to be given of
| from the leaves.
| 1t has been found by experiment that In the
main the good effect Of plaster is due to the
sulphuric ncid which II contains, or more par.
| ticularly to the amount OF sulphur which IL
cou,ains. II q plant Ia watered by sulphuric
acid very much Diluted with water 1: will pro-
duce the same effect as tho application of sui
phate OF lime. Bat it's good effect in some
cases is not all TO be- attributed to tho sulphur
ic acid, but portion Ia due to the effect Of the
lime winch 1t contains
Burned gypsum 10 much superior 10 the ar
tic.o commonly used 100 pounds Of burned
gypsum will produce as great an effect as l26
of that usually used.
But the uuburued article has an advantage
over thai which 10 burned 10 another respect.
II Il q fxed aud settled fact that any manure is
valuable ia cirecJ proportion to the amount OF
soluble matter 1t contains. Water is the me-
dinm BY which plants receive their food, and
anything which cannot he dissolved In water
cannot enter iuto the composition or crcula-
ton OF plant. One gallon of water will dis
solve one fourth OF pound OF unburned gyp-
cum, white /; will only dissolve one sixth Of q
pous OF th.t which Is burned.
But tncre are oth.r things which influence
the action of this fertilizer, and whoa give
rise o the differences OF epinIsn existing sm lng
oar practical iarm3rs as 30 the utity or good
\ qualities OF its application. For Instance, one
tsrmer wboss lsui co iSins but llttle or no
inns, sppiIss L. snd fndI it very beneficial,
when his ntighbor waOso land has jlst been
i'm 4, tries 1t and Is disappointed wI't the re
. suit. Toe caise Is ev!lent-in the frat case
. the efsc, was due to the action OF the lime OF
: the suiphA'e !, well NJ The sa|phuric scid, bu.
Ia the larsr the roll art adv ntainsd the uee-
D cessary supply OF lime, ard tho effect, though
: ners fetal, was not Go apparent.
: IL Euglan1 the 'uphAte Of soda (glauber
t salts J uss!a (ppsom salts J aad eulphae
Of potash, or vitrollzed turIar, are cntensively
9 used III agriculture. All these sulp-s es are
1 composed Of ore equivalent of the asld u1ited
= wish ono OF the bases. If tue land is already
q Itch 10 limo they use one OF the'e Ia prefer
Il euce 10 the sulphste It lilGe or gypsum As q
general rue gypsum exercises It's greatest in-
s hueuce upon crop7 which are cultivated fol
tito sake of III sr hefbake as Tor instacoe clover
+. Il las been iouud by several careful aud OF
repeated exporiments, that clover top dressed
J. on the aota Of hasch Produced is1 pound,
), th at top dressed OF lie 18th OF April lao lbs
D that top dressed on the Attn Of April l56 lhs
o and that TO which pous was applied produced
= but 100 pounds.
9 This experiment vas trisl 10 various part
II Of rope, wiln tine same succssl iu ali cases
is nut tie ABOVE plrti,dlst one wai tried In Gar
l. many, And sh lu,d tbiok that g. lsa-t two Of
- three weeks sh0uli bs aided 10 this date i
r applied 10 this couat-y.
y II 6il be seea iro,l thi5 TINT given apou1
Of gypsum will proGNca "A uI3l bstter yhll o
l. clover when applied ahor as leaves are tuli!
d developed Tue re sOD is o67iou- the plasle
= sticks TO he tayey If tie plant, W Itch, as be
Re fore stat-i, aGe giving Oh cNi oouie acid Thi
"a, acid hae stronger aH1:iy For Inns than TIL
4, sul phurc acii h45 anl aooJr iIueiy takes tht
l. pace OF the latter, which is set free and alb
ce .orbed by the plaGt The carbonc acid nu'
At the lime from caroouae OF lime falls to ii
re grouud end ben 6.s vegetation. This also ex
8. alsios the fact lba' plaster ptodlces a bette
E feet If applet while the clover or other GRO
lg Is wet or camp.
VT There 10 syo'her eject proia3ei, watch ma
lg Ia "a light degree affact vegetation. We kuov
81 TIA, when water and sulphutic acid combine
E. even in the smallest Quantities, beat Is pro
D. duccd.
ID # to enc gallon Of the acid we add one
he fourth as much wafer, tho temperature of th
bit MIXTURE will y, ct once rS!-ti 10 300 degree
OF or SO Aborc the ooil:u 2 poia, Can 1t be pc,
Of aib, II. the sulphu.ic acid OF the sulphau
on uniting wlih the moisture Of the atmosphere
ia soil, can generate Sufficient heat to bentas vet
be etation1 Will some Of the students OF Ii
vo " Pennsylvania Agricultural College" Gnswel
Another good effect pr 1duoed By the appl
d, cation Of gypsum is caused by tne evidity wit
which it absorbs moisture from the air al
ia then gives It of to the plants.
10 Plaster often produces grdet effect on Il
zoe corn crop, especially during IL dry season, c
n account Of he above yi,tue which It possesse
- Plaster is 90 excellent absotbstt, and tho
nd who apply It u their grace crops will find tn
ar instead Of allowing their manure heaps to r'
yes nslc uncovered, ayd thereby losing the a.
'or moGi-, if they would buy their plaster car
IN the season they would be greatly beo.6ttc
m as hGys been. J. P. O.
nd |