Middletown transcript., 1870-04-02
Ghe Garmer.
GYPSUM.

nurlng, and as gypsum especially shoulo
be used in early spring, we may call at,
tention to its quality and uses as fertili-
ger. That it should be used freely wher-
ever its peculiar action is effective, is de-
termined by the very small application
needed, and its cheapness therefore under
ordinary circumstances. We do not hear
much of the marvellous effects produced by
the merest dusting, as were produced in
the earlier days of its use, yet there is no
reason to doubt that on such soils and in
such latitudes as it has heretofore acted,
it still acts well, and especially on clover
and crops of that kind. When first intro
duced Gypsum (Sulphate of Lime) was as
striking in its effects as in later years gu
ano has been, and excited as much interest
in the agricultural community. If it has
not ceased to operate, if the land has not
I" tired" of it, if the fields from the very
dressings from year to year bestowed upon
them have not laid up in store for many
years the elements which it supplies, the
effects may not be so apparent, but there
is reason to believe they are abundantly
paying. There are also perhaps extensive
districts where it has never been used, in
to which it might be proftably introduced,
or where it should at least be fairly tried.
Of the fertilizing influence of gypsum
in the early days of its use, there is ample
evidence from contemporary accounts.
Whole districts of the most impoverished
land were thoroughly regenerated. Ex-
tensive portions of Maryland, Virginia,
Pennsylvania and other States. now and
for many years past, justly celebrated for
their fertility, owe their fame chiefly to
the impulse they received in the early Pc
riod Of the use of plaster, and its wise COM
bination with that invaluable improver
red clover Judge Peters, of Philadel-
phia, to whom we are inebted for the in
PRODUCTION of plaster as fertilizer, said of
it when speaking of the now famous ag-
ricultural lands of Loudon County, Virgil
MIA 1.-The Plaster of Paris has created
in that county an entire renovation Of their
soil, which was worn out by long cultiva-
ton and bad systems. Much Of it was
not originally of the best quality, their
bottom lands excepted. The use of gyp-
sum began in that county about twenty
eight years ago. They have now the
most solid reason for entertaining the
highest opinion of its capacities. 1t has
substituted plenty and comfort in place of
want and scanty subsistence. Their lands
have in many instances quadrupled in val
ue. Their stock of domestic animals have
wonderfully increased, and their barns
and granaries are filled. Lands producing
in their exhausted state only seven bush
els of corn, and five of wheat to the acre,
have been made by plaster alone. and
clover crops, to bring forty of the former
and thirty of the latter to the acre, and
their fertility remains on the advance.
If land is for sale, the only inquiry is
wether it lies well and is well watered.
Its being poor or rich makes very little
difference in the price, as it is well known
that one course of red clover, well plaster
ed for one or two years, puts the ground
in good heart for any crop. In fact the
clover crop, with its most magical adjunct
the plaster, does everything for exhausted
land, and much for any other" Col
John Taylor of Caroline County, Virginia,
author of that once well known little
work, Arator; Thomas Moore, the Qua
ker farmer of Montgomery county, Nd,
author of the famous Essay on Deep
Ploughing. published in 1902; and the
numerous Pennsylvania correspondents of
Judge Peters, all give like statements for
their several sections. They speak of
crops doubled and quadrupled, and in one
instance of a clover crop increased eight
fold by single dressing of plaster.
AS to the crops on which clover may be
used with most effect it is matter of i'm
portance to be informed, because it is found
to have remarkable efficiency on crops of
certain character, and to be totally inope-
rative on others. The French Chemist,
Boussingualt, gives a series of questions
submitted to agrieulturists, with their an
swers, as follows: "lst. Does plaster act
favorably on artificial meadows?' OF for
ty-three answers, forty are in the affirma-
tive and three in the negative. "2d.
Does plaster act favorably on artificial
meadows, the soil of which is very damp :"
Unanimously, No. Ten opinions given.
I'D. VIII it supply the place of organic
manure or of vegetable mould ?-i. e. will
barren soil be converted into fertile one
by the use of plaster ?" No, unanimous
| ly. Seven opinions given. 18th. Does
it sensibly increase the crops of the cere-
ais 2" OF thirty-two opinions given, thir-
! ty were negative and two affirmative. These
opinions are singularly coincident with
ours in this country, especially as regards
crops. Artificial meadows being oompos-
ed in great measure of clovers, are always
benefited by the use of plaster when the
soil Is dry. but not otherwise. On crops
of small grain it is never used directly.
The red clover is the crop on which it is
prominently effective. 1t was by means
of its action on this most valuable improv-
er that the extraordinary work of regene-
ration was brought about which followed
the introduction of plaster. One case is
mentioned of the increase of clover hay
from 500 lbs. to 1000 lbs. per acre. Col.
Taylor of Va. found it to act very advan-
tageously on a natural growth of our ligh-
ter lands, known as ''Bird-foot clover;"
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