Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-03-30
SOUTHERN HOME AND FARM.
Plaster and clover.

If the cultivation of clover is one of
the foundation principles of successful
American agriculture, plaster (gypsum)
IA its ueac neighbor. Western farmers,
the reading and thinking class, duly APP
p~reciate the Importance of the first prop
]ositiou, and are year by year coming to
appreciate the value of gypsum as an aid
in fostering not only the growth of clover,
but also the true grasses OF which are
included in all Il cereal grains.
That the feeling acknowledging the
necessity OF using some special applics-
ton to grass aud other crops to stimulate
growth is becoming general, is shown by
numbers OF letters from farmers within
the last year, asking for more specific in
formation relating nol only to gypsum,
but to many others OF what Is known as
special fertilizers. These we have an
swered from time to time as
they were received. For the rea
son that lsnd-plaster is quite
common in Michigan and seme
other portions of the west, and compare
lively cheap, and since we believe that
railroads may be induced to make low
rates for transportation because it would
be carried in an opposite direction from
heir heavy traffic, and would, as does
ne carriage of all fertilizing substances,
come back to them in enhanced freights
t rom increased production, we give
something of the future of gypsum aud
its effects. In the use of this, however
as in the Ease of all special fertilizers
each farmer should experiment for him
self and carefully note results.
Dana, in his Muck Manual" article
ISL, says:
Suppose plaster or gypsum ha
been applied; a bushel Of plaste
per acre, OF sven the four-hunaretl
part of one per cent. of the soil
produces effects on the alluvial land
which shows its good results as far a
the eye can reach. 1t seems almost in
credible that 50 minute a portion of
mineral can act at all, yet how beauti
fully is this result explained by tn
principle that plants decOmpose, first
this salt the lime for plaster is a sui
phate Of lime, then acts on geine, whicI
is thus rendered soluble, while the acid
the oil Of vitriol or sulphuric acid, immt
diately acts on sillicates. If s~illicate {
alkali exists in the soil, we have n
changed sulphate Of lime for an alkalin
sulphate, and if s~illicate of time is ais
present, the potash or alkali havin
been exhausted. plaster Of Paris
formed anew. So long as there is in Il
soil organic matter this action continue
and will continue till the plant has graz
ually withdrawn for its W use the aci
of the salt which was introduced
That is an important integer in II
economy Of plant life, we may refer
Johuson's "How Crops Grow" whi(
says:
"SULpHATE OF LIME.-The burnt
plaster of Paris of commerce is this sa
in a more or less pure state. 1t is read
formed by pouring diluted sulphur
acid on lime or marble. 1t is found
the ash of most plants, especially in tn
of clover, the bean and other legumes.
"1n nature, sulphate of lime is usual
combined with two molecules of waite
and thus constitutes gypsum, viii,
is p rock of frequent and extensi
occurrence. In the cells of mai
plants, as for instance the bea
gypsum may be discovered by the micl
scope in the shape Of minute crystals.
requires four hundred times its weight
water to dissolve it, and, being aImc
universally distributed in soil, is rare
absent from the water OF wells a
springs"
These extracts will suffice to she
something OF the value of plaster, a
now it acts upon the constituents of t
soil. 1t is also one of the most valuat
substances known, for the stable,o OF WHIT
everit may be needed to fix nitrogenin
forms as found there Prairie Farm