On Plaister of Paris. 21 
- It is not very agreeable to fully express my experi- 
ence on agriculture, for fear the verity of it might be 
called in question; buta visit from Judge Peters at my 
farm, would be agreeable, when conversation would 
add something more. 
Wirtitiam WEstT.. 
May 26th, 1796. 
I have often since conversed with that most worthy and 
much lamented agriculturist Mr. West. I never could prevail 
on him to write more on this, or any other subject. He would 
evade, or what was more in character, at once refuse all 
my importunities. Mr. Sellers and Mr. West, having been 
among the first with whom I communicated on the subject 
of the plaister, and when they were unbelievers, I took occa- 
sion to address my queries to them and was highly gratified 
by their conviction of its efficacy and the results of their ex- 
perience. 
Mr. West did not begin the use of plaister, until many 
years after its being known here ; and used by all who could 
be prevailed on to believe in it. But he soon recovered his lost 
time. His fortunate plan of top-dressings with a kind of crea- 
tion of manure, made from materials on his own farm, and 
such as are generally overlooked and neglected, succeeded 
most wonderfully as auxiliary to plaister. It seemed to ope- 
rate in connexion with his composts, with all grasses on his 
fields ; and to set general rules at defiance. 
R. P. 
September 1810. 
