Observations on Colonel Taylor's Letter. 67 
I have always found scattering plaister over the whole 
of a corn field, better, than partial applications to hills. 
Covered or not, I have not found much, if any differ- 
ence. I have sowed it on the snow in February, and as 
late as June, or July, with equal success. Season and 
casual circumstances, no doubt, concurred. I should 
think that covering would be the best for a corn field, 
It brmgs it in contact with the roots of the plant, as 
they spread. 
I wish Mr. T. would send us his results and mode — 
of draining. Every thing from him is valuable. 
You can easily inform him of our mode of manufac- 
turing plaister. Nothing can be more perfect ; and you 
know how to describe it. You may send this letter ; 
or pick out of it any thing you please.* 
Iam much afraid of Mr. Taylor’s experiment on 
his 200 acres half kept in corn—and half in ungrazed- 
clover—both plaistered. It will most assuredly fail on 
the corn ground, though it will succeed on the other — 
part. No doubt the vegetable matter in the latter, will 
constantly give activity and pabulum for the sulphuric 
acid. But what will be in the corned part for it to work 
on? The more pulverization by constant tillage, the 
less the plaister will operate; because the vegetable 
matter is perpetually dissipated. I have often mentioned. 
* Colonel T. in aletter February 16th, 1810, to Dr. Mease, 
explains his practice, which had been misunderstood. It is 
a bold, and it is to be wished it may be a succesful experi- 
ment. The ameliorating the soil, by the decay and accumulation 
of vegetable matter from its own surface, has succeeded on a 
smaller scale ; but in a longer time. 
4ede 
