The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-03-28
SOUTHERN HOME AND FARM.


If the cultivation of clover is one of
the foundation principles of successful
American agriculture, plaster (gypsum)
Is it's near neighbOr. Western farmers,
the reading and thinking class, duly ap-
preciate the importance of the first prop
osition, 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 our cereal grains.
That the feeling acknowledging the
necessity of using some special applics-
tion to grass and other crops to stimulate
growth is becoming general, is shown by
numbers of letteI 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 land-plaster is quite
common in Michigan and SEINE
other portions of the west, and com para
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
he carriage of all fertiliziDg substances.
come back to them in enhanced freights
{ rom increased production, we give
something of the future of gypsum and
its effects. In the use of this, however,
as in the case 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 hal
been applied; a bushel of plaster
per acre, on even the four-hunjrett
part OF one per cent. of the soil
produces effects on the alluViaI land
which shows its good results as far a
the eye can reach. 1t seems almost in
credible that so minute a portion of 8
mineral can act at ali, yet how beauti
fully is this result explained by the
principle that plants decOmpose, first
this salt; the lime for plaster is sui
phate of lime, then acts on GENE, which
is thus rendered soluble. while the acid
the oil of vitriol or sulphuric acid, imme
diately acts on sillicates. If sillicate o.
alkali exists in the soil, we have nc
changed sulphate of lime for an alkaline
sulphate, and if siIlicate of time is also
present, the potash or aIkali having
been exhausted. plaster of Paris i
formed anew. So long as there is in thu
soil organic matter this action continues
and will continue till the plant has grad
ually withdrawn for its own use the aciC
OF the salt which was introduced
That is an important integer in tn,
economy of plant life, we may refer t.
Johnson's Chow Crops Grow" which
says:
"SULPHATE OF LIME.-The burned
plaster of Paris of commerce is this sal
in more or less pure state. 1t is readi,
formed by pouring diluted sulphur
acid on lime or marble. 1t is found il
the ash of most plants, especially in tina
of clover, the bean and other legumes.
In nature, sulphate of lime is usualll,
combined with two molecules of water
and thus constitutes gypsum, whicl
Is rock of frequent and extensiv
occurrence. In the cells of man
plants, as for instance the bear
gypsum may be discovered by the micro
scope in the shape of minute CRYSTALS. ]
requires four hundred times its weight c
water to dissolve it, and, being aImos
universally distributed in soil, is rarel
absent from the water OF wells an
springs."
These extracts will suffice 10 sho,
something of the value of plaster, an
now 1T acts upon the constituents of tn
soil. 1t is also one of the most valuabl
substances known, for the stable, or wher
ever 1t may be needed to TX nitrogen in it
forms as found there Prairie Farme