PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 7.3 



burned in such manner that their ashes can be taken up clean and 

 pure. Two parts of the charcoal, one part of these ashes, and 

 one part of common salt are added to complete the compound, 

 the ashes and the salt being mingled with the charcoal at the time 

 of grinding. Then the composition is packed in air-tight pack- 

 ages, or sacks made air-tight, and is ready for use. 



As an ordinary top-dressing, from one two hundred pounds per 

 acre would be required, and the cost -would be less than $20 per 

 ton. This compound is submitted as containing all the most 

 valuable inorganic elements required by the growing plant. If 

 the club would appoint a committee to experiment with and 

 report upon this manure, he would furnish them such quantities 

 as they might require for that purpose. 



A committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Carpenter, 

 Pardee, Gale, Robinson, Hite, Trimble and Bergen. 



Dr. Trimble said that he had e'xperimented A\dth plaster and 

 found the results sometimes very great and sometimes impercep- 

 tible. Upon rows of corn, it w^ould make them green, but pro- 

 duced no better corn. Probably the committee would come to 

 very different results with this manure from differences of soil 

 and other conditions. 



Mr. Robinson stated that his experience had been that plaster 

 does not increase the grain but the blade, and is valuable in 

 raising fodder. 



Dr. Thompson, — It takes 400 parts of water to dissolve one 

 part of plaster. If there comes a heavy rain before it is gradually 

 dissolved and taken up by the plants, it may be washed away. 



Mr. Capenter. — ■'In a dry season plaster has no effect, while in 

 a wet season the effect is very great. When used too frequently 

 it may lose its effect. 



Prof. Nash believed that on sweet land, moderately manured, 

 plaster always pays. He had found that the best farmers recom- 

 mended its use. If it is a dry season when it is applied, it will 

 not show the effect until the following year. The farmer is cer- 

 tain to get its value sooner or later. As it dissolves so slowly 

 the farmer may put it on either 100 lbs, a year or 400 lbs, once 

 in four years, as is most convenient. Its use is not merely to 

 furnish sulphuric acid and lime to the plants, but to give reten- 

 tiveness to the soil, to take up gaseous substances from manures* 

 decayed grasses, or from the atmosphere, such as are required by 

 vegetation. 



