338 N. n. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



(Tjvliat is termed) a catch of grass, and wc can attribute it 

 to no otlicr cause than that of our free use of plaster in 

 our hovels for the several past winters. We have no doubt 

 but guano — pure and unadulterated — is a most valuable ma- 

 nure for the Avheat, and some others of our cultivated 

 crops — providing, we except the summer droughts ; yet, wo 

 believe most of our farmers had better expend money for 

 plaster, to be used daily in their hovels and stables during 

 winter and summer too, if they keep their cows in the barn 

 at night, as every good, or bad farmer should, if he consults 

 his interests. Hay, with us, in farming, is of vastly moro 

 consequence than the wheat crop. 



But if we wish to grow wheat, we had better do it 

 through the aid of plaster and clover than to attempt it, 

 by the use of guano at sixty or more dollars per ton. 



Plaster, used as we have used it, carries to the land 

 when mixed with the manure, lime, sulphur and ammonia, 

 these very essential constituents of plants. Some appa- 

 rently good soils do not contain these substances in sufficient 

 quantities — neither does common farm-yard nianure, — for 

 we know this to be true, from the fact that vre have time 

 and again, seen the corn crop very much increased in value, 

 (on-good looking and well manured soils,) by the simple 

 addition of a teaspoonful of plaster to the hill, at the time 

 the corn was planted. We went two miles last September 

 to look at a field of corn, planted on good soil, well ma- 

 nured, all plastered in the hill except occasionally two rows 

 together had no plaster ; we judged the ]>lastcred would 

 produce one-third more corn. J3ut since the harvest, the 

 experimenter has informed us that the un[»lastcred rows 

 did not produce more than half as much as the same num- 

 ber of rows that received the plaster. 



