Miscellanies. 383 



5. Fertilizing properties of Limestone. — Communicated by a 

 gentleman in Geneseo, State of New York. — An additional fact in 

 relation to the fertilizing quality of lime seems to be rendered very 

 probable, if not certain, by some experiments which have been re- 

 cently made in this town, Mr. Moore, in digging a well, hit upon 

 a formation of soft or friable limestone, combined with fossil shells* 

 of great diversity of formation. Specimens were sent in different 

 directions, and there was but one opinion that it was a limestone for- 

 mation. A bed of gypsum is very valuable. Mr. Moore and his 

 neighbors believe that they had discovered a valuable gypsum for- 

 mation on their farms. They sent waggon loads to plaster mills and 

 grist mills, and caused what they pronounced gypsum to be spread 

 on a great number of fields, during last fall and this spring. The 

 result has been, in every instance, that the clover, wheat, and spring 

 crops have been essentially benefitted by the application ; and Mr. 

 Moore and his neighbors still believe the substance which they are 

 selling as gypsum, surpasses in efficacy either the Wheatland or the 

 Cayuga plaster. That this formation is equally efficacious with the 

 plaster which is generally used in this section of the State, there 

 seems no reason to question — and that it is a limestone formation, is 

 beyond the possibility of doubt. 



Is it possible that the mechanical operation of grinding or pulver- 

 izing crude or unburnt limestone renders it equally fertilizing with 

 gypsum ? It appears difficult to avoid this inference. Mr. Moore 

 has erected a windmill, and is digging and vending in great quanti- 

 ties, what he calls plaster ; and the farmers, from hundreds of ex- 

 periments, entertain the most entire confidence in its efficacy. 



With a view of obtaining some additional facts on this subject, 

 which, in its present stage, is a little perplexing, a person called on 

 Mr. Moore with a vial of muriatic acid. Mr. Moore showed him 

 specimens of Chitteningo, Cayuga, Phelpstown and Wheatland 

 plaster. Each of these specimens effervesced on the application of 

 the acid.f This fact seems to add to the perplexity of the subject, 



* Chiefly terebratulae of great distinctness and beauty. 



t Owing to a mixture of carbonate of lime with plaster of Paris, it is not un- 

 common that the latter effervesces. It is not difficult to decide which prevails. 

 The substance being pulverized and mixed with diluted muriatic or nitric acid, 

 will dissolve entirely if it is a pure carbonate o[ lime ; if there is a residuum, it may 

 be plaster of Paris, or something else not soluble in the acids. The specimen sent to 

 us by our correspondent was so treated, and indicated about half of carbonate of 

 lime without plaster of Paris, but with a large clayey residuum. — Ed. 



