264 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Dr. Kedzie. — Have you ever measured tlie bushels of corn? 



Mr. Moore. — No, sir; but the effect was very marked Avhere I used it on the 

 hill. 



J. M. Roberts. — I have tried plastering ten rows and skipping ten, and. I 

 could never observe any difference. 



J. H. Green, Eaisiu. — I am decidedly a plaster man. I think I have seen 

 the best results from its use both on corn and clover. I have never measured, 

 the corn, but there was a material difference in the growth of the stalk, and I 

 have always observed that Avhere you have a large stalk you generally get a 

 large ear. I have also used it Avhere I know it increased, the yield, of wlieat, 

 not only in quantity but quality. 



Mr. Moore. — I can say that I have lived on my farm twenty-two years. When 

 I moved on tlie farm Avhere I now live twenty-two years ago, I was told that 

 my land would never raise grass. The first year I was on the farm, all the hay 

 I cut on the farm of two hundred, acres I put on a scaffold over the stable in a 

 thirty l^y forty feet barn. I went to work, plowed the farm all over at a good 

 dej)th, and went to using plaster. I would plow my clover under, and I have 

 found no trouble to raise two and a half tons of the clean timothy to an acre. 

 My land is in a great deal better state of cultivation than it was twenty-two 

 years ago, and my neighbors will all admit that none of them raise more corn 

 to the acre than I do. I have raised year after year over one hundred bushels 

 to the acre. 



Dr. Kedzie. — There is no question in my mind but plaster will increase the 

 growth of the stalk, but I have seen no proof that the yield of grain is increased. 



L. C. Drake. — I would like to use plaster on my young clover when it gets two 

 or two or three leaves, but I am afraid that it will injure the wheat by making 

 it later ripening and more inclined to rust. If it will not do so I would be very 

 glad to know it. 



Dr. Kedzie. — I do not think your wheat will be injured by the use of plaster. 



J. M. Robertson. — I have had an experience of forty years in this plaster 

 matter, having used it on corn, clover, and wheat, and I do not think I have 

 received any great benefit excepting on clover. It has a very marked effect on 

 that. The true way to get substantial benefit from the use of your plaster is to 

 sow it on your clover, and Avhen the proper time comes turn it under. This will 

 improve the condition of your land, and in that way you can increase the yield 

 of grain. Two years ago I plastered a portion of my cornfield, and a part I did 

 not. All through the season you could see a marked difference in the growth 

 of the stalks, but when we come to husk it there was no difference in the yield 

 of the grain. This year I said to my hired man and son, "We will keep the 

 plaster off." We did not put any on, and I never had a finer crop of corn in my 

 life. It yielded one hundred and twenty-five bushels to the acre. My soil is a 

 sandy, gravelly loam. 



DISCUSSION AT COLDWATER. 



I. M. Sellover, Coldwater. — What amount is best to sow? 



Dr. Kedzie. — Just as much as will become active. It is usually found that 

 100 pounds to the acre has as good an effect as 1,000. 



Frank Humphrey, Saline. — Would you apply plaster to muck? 



Dr. Kedzie. — If I had simply a muck bed I should not expect any special 

 benefit from the use of plaster. Plaster has but little effect on marshes or wet 

 ground. 



