Pty Se a OF 
Answers to Queries on Plaister of Paris, by the Rev. C. 
Wiarton, D. D. near Wilmington, in the Delaware 
State. Now of Burlington N. J. 
Prospect Hill, August 19th, 1796. 
~ 
Dear Sir, 
Since I was favoured with yours of the 20th ult. I 
have made inquiries among those of the neighbourmg 
farmers from whom I could expect any information 
respecting the nature and effects of the gypsum. Much 
use I find is made of it in the upper parts of this coun- 
try, where the land in general is hilly, and the soil sto- 
ney and thin, intermixed with a great proportion of 
isinglass. On these hills the effects of the gypsum are 
astonishing especially when spread upon clover. 
One bushel or one and a half at most, is sowed upon 
an acre, and its produce is more than doubled by this 
procedure. They do not discover that the soil is any 
ways impoverished by the gypsum, but on the contra- 
ry rendered more able to support a rotation of crops 
for two or three years. 1 could not learn that they mix- 
ed it with any other kind of manure, or that they ex. 
perienced much benefit except upon clover lands. They 
always-sow it early in the spring, and have no other 
than what is brought from Nova Scotia. From my own 
experience, I am fully convinced of the advantages aris- 
x ing from this substance to some soils, and its ineflicacy 
upon others. A narrow vein of dry gravel mixed with - 
me claj runs through the farm on which I live; on each 
wa. iieor it the land is rather wet and a cold clay. On 
i this latter L could never perceive any effect from the 
ail 
ay & 
