124 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



thrtt crop. I would like to state the results of the use of 

 plaster in a single case, two years ago. I do not know that I 

 can give you the reason of the results, but I will make the 

 statement, and leave you to form your own conclusions in 

 relation to it. 



I planted an acre of potatoes two years ago, upon a piece 

 of land that had never been cultivated before. 1 allowed 

 one-half of it to be cultivated by one of the workmen on ray 

 farm, and the other half I cultivated myself. Upon the half 

 that I cultivated I used plaster in the hill, and nothing else. 

 My workman employed manure upon his side of the field. 

 The difference in the time of planting was about one week. 

 I used the Early Rose potatoes for seed, and he did the same, 

 but the seed was not obtained from the same source. The 

 sources from which the seed was obtained were different ; the 

 method of manuring was different, and there was one week's 

 difference in the time of planting. Now for the result. 

 When we came to dig those potatoes in the field, I found that 

 every one of mine was perfectly sound, and of very nice 

 quality. Upon the other side of the lot, in the same plot of 

 ground, all of those potatoes were diseased. It was a per- 

 fect failure — a dead loss. I thought it was an interesting 

 fact. I have reflected upon it a great deal. The rot came 

 and struck those potatoes in August. I allowed him to cul- 

 tivate just one-half of the field. I took one side, he the 

 other, of the line, right through the middle of the field. The 

 rot came, as I say, and struck his potatoes about the middle 

 of August, and they became as brown as you can imagine j 

 while the vines upon the other side of the line were perfectly 

 green. The potatoes upon that side matured, as I have said — 

 were excellent ; and they were a total failure upon the other. 

 I think that is an interesting fact. I do not know how it 

 should happen to be so ; but I give you the facts in the case, 

 and leave you to form your own opinions about it. 



Mr. Wetherell, I want to ask the Doctor this question : 

 Do you, as a chemist, regard plaster, which you recommend, 

 as a universal fertilizer, like barn-yard manure, to be used on 

 every farm, irrespective of conditions? 



Dr. Nichols. That opens up a very broad subject. I 

 really do not feel like going into a discussion of the subject 



