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On Plaister of Paris. 125 
nard Taylor, Robert Braden, James Moore, and Abel 
Jenners:—all respectable citizens, and practical farmers, 
of Loudon county; and well acquainted with the general — 
state of agriculture therein. He had the like difficulties 
in procuring information, with those constantly experi- 
enced here. 
Mr. Noland informs me, that, about 14 years ago, the 
late Col. Clapham cleared about 20 acres ofnew land, and 
ploughed in, on a part of it, half a bushel to the acre of 
plaister.* He planted tobacco on the part plaistered, sowed 
also thereon, about half a bushel of plaister to the acre, 
broadcast. ‘There was no appearance of any benefit 
from the plaister, either on the crop to which it was 
then applied, or to any succeeding crops since. Mr. .No- 
land, with a view to ascertain the effects, if any, on new 
or virgin sotls, repeatedly took, notice of this piece of 
land ; and has never been able to discern any ‘difference 
between that, and the adjacent new land unplaistered. 
An old field of the same original quality, divided from 
the new land only by a lane, and entirely worn out, was 
taken up, for experiment, by Col. Clapham, and sowed 
generally with plaister ; but stripes were sometimes left 
* Great numbers of farmers now harrow in,and some 
plough in the plaister, and give favourable accounts of their 
success. My opinion was originally against this practice ; 
but I always distrust my own judgment, when facts, well 
attested, oppose it. I often now harrow in the plaister on 2 - 
corn field; and find it highly beneficial. In general I still 
use it as atop dressing: and never found advantage by 
ploughing it in. , 
| * R. P. 
