14 



acres, leaving nine acres witliout. Two barrels were of the Oswego and four of 

 the Grand River plaster. The clover grew well all over the field, but best on 

 the plastered part, and by the 20th of July that on which the Grand River 

 plaster was used was all lodged ; that on which the Oswego was used, but par- 

 tially so ; while the unplastered part stood up and was much lighter than either 

 of the others. The whole was ploughed under six inches deep, between tlie 

 20th and last of July, and the ground well harrowed over the first week in Sep- 

 tember. The wheat Avas all sowed broadcast, two bushels to the acre, and well 

 harrowed in, between the 10th and 11th of the same month. The fiehl had 

 been carefully divided, before sowing, into three parts, across the plastered and 

 unplastered parts; two contained twelve acres each, and one thirteen acres. 

 Twelve acres were sown Avith the Hutchinson (white) wheat, twelve acres with 

 the Soule (white) wheat, and thirteen acres with the Mediterranean. The fly 

 made its appearance on both varieties of the white Avheat last fall, but was con- 

 fined to the parts not plastered. They appeared again this spring all over both 

 varieties of the Avhite Avheat, but the wheat grew so strong Avhere it had been 

 plastered that it was well advanced in filling before their effect began to show 

 itself. The heavy winds and rains at the commencement and during harvest so 

 prostrated the affected part that we were unable to gather it, and my best judg- 

 ment is that three to four bushels per acre were left on the ground. The Medi- 

 terranean Avas slightly injured in a fcAV places, but not to materially affect its 

 yield. We gathered and threshed the different varieties separately, and that 

 which grew on the plastered parts separate from the unplastered part. The 

 result was as folloAvs : The Hutchinson wheat produced 7^ bushels per acre on 

 the part not plastered, and 15f bushels per acre on the part plastered; Soule 

 wheat produced 8:^ bushels per acre on the part not plastered, and 19yL on the 

 part plastered; Avhile the Mediterranean produced 19| bushels to the acre on the 

 part not plastered, and 261 bushels to the acre on the part plastered. I had 

 used plaster frequently before Avith marked success, but had never noted its 

 effects Avith the same care as on the present occasion. Therefore, from the facts 

 now before me, I draAv the following conclusions : 1. That three-fourths to one 

 bushel of plaster per acre on lands Avhich have produced grain for a number of 

 years in succession, applied on a Avell-set, groAving clover crop, at some six inches 

 high, and ploughed under when the seed balls have all turned brown, Avill add 

 fifteen to thirty per cent, to a succeeding Avheat crop over the same clover turned 

 under Avithout plaster. 2. That the vigor imparted to the growing grain by the 

 use of plaster Avill, in a great degree, prevent the ravages of the fly on such va- 

 rieties as the fly Avorks most upon. 3. That clover and plaster, on most soils, 

 are the cheapest manures that the farmer can use, yet he should not neglect the 

 use of any others Avithin his reach." He adds that the cost of the plaster used 

 and of putting it on was about $14, or fifty cents per acre. 



3. Prices of lime and plaster. — The results of this experiment, if general, 

 would justify the most liberal use of lime and plaster, at the highest prices, Avhich 

 appear in the column under the head of lime and plaster in the table. A barrel 

 of plaster is estimated at 300 pounds, and the six barrels cost, Avhen put on the 

 fields, $14, equal to $2 33 a barrel, or ^y^ cents per pound. This is at the rate 

 of $15 45 per ton. The highest average price in the table for a State is $13 12. 

 The present prices of Nova Scotia plaster, unground, we suppose, is as foUoAvs : 

 Boston, S3 per ton ; Ncav York, $4 ; Philadelphia, $4 75 ; Baltimore, $5. We 

 knoAv of no well-conducted experiments shoAving the general eftects of plaster 

 when used on clover. But with success, approximating to that detailed by 

 General Orr, there is no manure that should be more sought after for general 

 agriculture. It fully sustains his third conclusion, that " clover and plaster, on 

 most soils, are the cheapest manures that the farmer can use." And in vioAv of 

 this result, no greater benefit could be conferred on agriculture than determining 



