SECRETARY'S REPORT. 123 



to our stock of compost. Swamp muck abounds in many localities, 

 and is considerably used in making compost. I think it a good plan to 

 stock it up a year or two before hand, that the sun, and air, and frost, 

 may sweeten it and make it more mellow and friable, and therefore 

 incorporate more readily with the manure. Lime or ashes, is good 

 to mix with it, to neutralize the acids said to be contained in muck. 



Mr. Leonard Ford has just informed me, that he purchased last 

 spring, sixty-three pounds of guano, which he mixed with nine bushels 

 of fine moist earth and two bushels of plaster. He let it lay about 

 three weeks, stirring it occasionally to get it well mixed, and applied 

 about half a pint to a hill of corn, on ground where manure had been 

 spread. The result is, that the corn where guano was applied, is now 

 one quarter larger than when none was used. He also applied it to 

 potatoes in like quantity, using no other manure. The potatoes 

 where the mixture was used, were big enough to hoe when those 

 where none was applied, were just breaking the ground ; and there 

 is as much difference in the tops now, (Aug. 6,) as there is in his corn. 



Plaster has been extensively used in town for quite a number of 

 years ; and on land to which it is adapted, is, perhaps, the cheapest 

 manure or stimulant known. On loamy, clay and sometimes on 

 moist sandy soils, its effects are sometimes surprising ; whilst on dry, 

 rocky, gravelly, or very wet soils, it does no good. It frequently more 

 than doubles the crop, and the difference in the tops may be observed 

 forty or fifty rods distant or more. I procured some plaster a number 

 of years ago. One of my neighbors examined it and tasted of it, and 

 said he knew that stuff would not do much good. I told him to bring 

 over a bag when he came again, and I would give him as much of it 

 as he would carry home, and he might. try it for his own satisfaction. 

 He accordingly brought his bag, and I kept shoveling in, till he said 

 he had as much as he could well carry ; I think he had about five 

 pecks. I helped him shoulder it, and he made out to get it home, but 

 told me afterwards, that he never had such a lug: in his life. He was 

 convinced that it was all I recommended it, and has bought and used 

 a great deal since. 



Plaster has a surprising effect sown on mowing and pasture lands. 

 It brings in clover where none was perceivable befoi^e, so that some 

 have made the observation that they did not believe but what there 

 must be seed in the plaster. I have seen the initial letters of a name 

 made with plaster on grass land, which could be read a number of 

 years. I have sown it on grass land when the grass was nearly bound 

 out, and it would come up a thick growth of clover, and the diflference 

 might be observed a great distance. When I cut over my manure heaps 



